SCHEME OF DECEIT
QC: Freeman was evasive and dishonest throughout
THE doctor at the centre of the testosterone scandal that has rocked British cycling is alleged to have masterminded ‘a scheme of deceit’.
At the medical tribunal of Richard Freeman, the former Team Sky doctor was accused of ‘lying, dishonesty and evasion’ and launching a cover-up following his ordering of the banned substance to their Manchester Velodrome HQ in 2011.
Freeman has already admitted 18 of 22 offences but denies that he ordered 30 sachets of Testogel to be given to an athlete to improve their performance.
Instead, he will claim that the gels were for former head coach Shane Sutton’s personal use and that Freeman was ‘bullied’ into ordering it for him.
However, that version of events was rejected by the General Medical Council (GMC) whose lawyer said that all the evidence to be heard would show that the testosterone was for an unidentified athlete.
Simon Jackson QC opened the prosecution behind the trail of events when the package addressed to Freeman arrived at the Velodrome and was opened by stunned ex-physio Phil Burt.
When shown it, Freeman stated: ‘We shouldn’t have this, this is a mistake.’ He then contacted Fit4Sport, the Oldham-based supplier, and persuaded Trish Meats, a manager there, to send an email saying they had sent the package in error, had asked for its return and had subsequently destroyed it — something which did not happen.
The ‘false’ email was placed into what was described as ‘a sticky folder’ and Freeman later persuaded an unaware head of medical, Dr Steve Peters, to speak to the press, disclosing that they now had a document explaining the matter.
Opening, Jackson said: ‘At every stage from 2011 to the present time Dr Freeman has lied, been dishonest and given evasive answers.
‘He was plainly not expecting the chance of it (the package) being opened by Phil Burt and since then he has involved others in his scheme of deceit.
‘He asked Trish Meats to tell lies. Secondly, he asked Dr Peters to repeat that lie to the press. Thirdly, when he had run out of excuses two years after he was first asked he named Shane Sutton as the intended recipient.’
Jackson added that the medical records of Sutton, who denies he suffered from erectile dysfunction, show no need for treatment with testosterone.
He said Sutton ‘would become Dr Freeman’s scapegoat to cover up his own misconduct’ adding: ‘Dr Freeman has run out of tracks and has crossed the line,’ and had named Sutton to a UK AntiDoping probe without his consent.
Closing a searing session in Manchester, he emphatically rejected claims made earlier that Freeman was a ‘jobbing GP’, pointing to an email they had obtained in which he describes himself as ‘the most experienced cycling doctor in Britain’.
He also dismissed claims the gel was for Sutton. ‘(The GMC) does not need to identify the athlete,’ he said. ‘Based on all evidence tribunal will hear an athlete was the intended recipient of the Testogel — this was not a therapeutic treatment for Shane Sutton.’
It also emerged that a debit for the Testogel still existed on British Cycling’s account with Fit4Sport and there was also a brief discussion over whether Viagra was only used by those with erectile dysfunction.
Jackson also said Freeman had handed out prescriptions to the families of non-riders on an ‘ad hoc’ basis and that evidence suggested he did so ‘as if he was their GP... plainly blurring the responsibilities’.
A witness statement from Meats was also read to the hearing. In it, she confirmed that Freeman had asked her to put something in writing which stated the package was sent in error by her company and that it had been returned and destroyed.
‘There was no error on our part,’ she said. ‘If he had tried to suggest that, I would have disputed it. I thought it must be some internal thing at British Cycling. He was a doctor and I trusted him. This made me think there was nothing sinister in what he was asking.’
Mary O’Rourke QC, representing Freeman, earlier confirmed she would be lodging a legal request with this newspaper for information she believes it holds which she says will question Sutton’s credibility. She also added that she did not ‘accept the factual accuracy’, of parts of Jackson’s opening.
Proceedings will continue on Monday, with Sutton expected to give evidence.