Freeman medical tribunal faces further delay

FORMER British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman’s medical tribunal hit a further delay yesterday.

The tribunal panel had been scheduled to come back with a decision on whether key evidence from Shane Sutton, the former technical director at British Cycling, could be admitted.

Without it, Dr Freeman’s barrister Mary O’Rourke says the General Medical Council’s case against her client ‘falls apart’. The tribunal has now been adjourned until this morning.

Dr Freeman is accused of ordering 30 sachets of testosterone gel in May 2011 knowing or believing it was for use by an athlete to improve performance.

He denies this, and claims he was bullied into ordering it by Sutton. Dr Freeman further claimed that Sutton wanted the gel to treat erectile dysfunction.

Sutton strenuously denied those claims during a stormy evidence session on November 12, and walked out before O’Rourke had completed her crossexamination. O’Rourke has argued that his failure to complete his testimony should render his evidence inadmissible.

Should the panel rule that Sutton’s evidence cannot be admitted, it is understood O’Rourke will move to have the four outstanding charges against her client thrown out during her half-time submission. Dr Freeman has admitted 18 charges, including that he ordered the testosterone gel and that he lied to British Cycling colleagues about it.

He has also admitted charges related to record-keeping and to prescribing medicine to non-athlete members of staff.

The case, scheduled until December 20, could now run on into the new year.