New twist in Sky dope probe

UK ANTI- DoPING have delayed their appearance before Parliament because of what was being described by sources last night as a potentially significant development in their investigation into Team Sky and the medical package for Sir Bradley wiggins.

The national anti- doping agency were due to give evidence to the select committee for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport tomorrow, with British Cycling and former Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman then appearing before MPs.

But UKAD have asked for more time after initially telling the committee that they expected their investigation to be complete by February 22.

Sportsmail understands the investigation remains ongoing because of progress investigators have made in the last few weeks and the need to interview more witnesses.

It was earlier this month that UKAD investigators were back at the national cycling centre in Manchester quizzing Dr Freeman and examining computer files.

Nicole Sapstead, the UKAD chief executive, will now inform the select committee of the agency’s progress on March 1, with Freeman and former British Cycling coach Simon Cope — who delivered the medical package for wiggins in France at the request of Team Sky in June 2011 — to follow on the same day. Freeman took last week off work, with some of that time understood to have been devoted to preparing for the questions expected from MPs.

Meanwhile, UKAD are set to unveil their new chairman today. It is believed that, like outgoing chairman David Kenworthy, the new head of the organisation will be from a law-enforcement background.