The email trail that damns British Cycling
LATE 2010: A Team GB rider has a random out-of-competition doping test and their urine contains an anomalous finding of nandrolone. The finding is deemed sufficiently significant that, sources say, UKAD’s head of legal, Graham
Arthur, tips off British Cycling’s (BC) management. FIRST WEEK OF 2011: BC’s senior management team of Dave Brailsford, Steve Peters, Dr Richard Freeman and coach Shane Sutton consider reasons for the result from innocent naturally-occurring nandrolone to doping. They decide to test supplements taken by the three-man group where the anomalous finding occurred and privately test the rider’s urine to explore what that shows over time.
EMAIL 1
JANUARY 7, 2011: Freeman emails Peters with a draft version of a letter to be sent to the riders asking them to volunteer for urine tests to monitor their nandrolone levels. It includes this:
Date: 7 Jan 2011 From: Richard Freeman
To: Steve Peters
Dear Rider …
… I would like to analyse riders urine for the presence of 19 norandrosterone, which is the metabolite of nandrolone which is tested for. You may be away (sic) of the great controversy concerning trace amounts in athletes urine…
… [the testing] is confidential within British Cycling. Analysis will be performed on numerically coded samples by an independent laboratory, reporting only to myself and Dr Steve Peters and NOT WADA or UK Anti-doping…
JANUARY 7: Peters responds...
Date: 7 Jan 2011 From: Steve Peters To: Richard Freeman Priority: High Thanks Richard. Excellent letter. Please send it out with copies to the staff as well….
JANUARY, 10: British Cycling make phone contact with a private laboratory, HFL, in Cambridgeshire, asking about the cost and logistics of private testing. The lab respond later that day with a quote and say they need permission from UK Sport or UKAD.
EMAIL 2
JANUARY 11:
British Cycling respond...
Date: 11 Jan 2011 From: British Cycling
To: HFL lab boss
I wish to profile 3 riders over 4 weeks… I can confirm that I wish to proceed with the study at the above costs. Please send me 20 specimen bottles to [National Cycling Centre address]… I wish to commence ASAP. As you requested, UKAD are aware and support my audit…
EMAIL 3
JANUARY 12: Freeman emails Graham Arthur at UKAD saying the lab want UKAD approval for the private testing. Arthur replies he will be happy to speak to them.
Date: 12 Jan 2011, From: Richard Freeman early afternoon
To: Graham Arthur CC: [Lab boss] and
Steve Peters [Lab boss] at HFL has asked for a copy of an approval email from UKAD re awareness of this study… please may I request this?
Date: 12 Jan 2011, From: Graham Arthur late afternoon
To: Richard Freeman CC: [Lab boss] and Steve Peters Richard, I am happy to speak to [lab boss] about this.
Best, Graham
EMAIL 4
JANUARY 13. Lab boss emails British Cycling to say: ‘I’ve spoken to Graham. No problems. We are good to go.’ This is sent on to Steve Peters, who replies...
Date: 13 Jan 2011 From: Steve Peters To: Richard Freeman
Excellent
JANUARY 27: A coach with the riders training in Australia emails Freeman, Peters and Sutton: ‘I have given the [specimen] bottles to the guys’. FEBRUARY: Specimens arrive at HFL laboratory for testing. UKAD have confirmed to
The Mail on Sunday they have no record of ever seeing the findings.