Cooke father ‘raised fears over doping’

THE father of Olympic champion Nicole Cooke has told a medical tribunal he raised concerns over allegations of drug use in cycling with UK Anti-Doping and British Cycling in 2013 but was left concerned they would not be acted upon.

Tony Cooke recalled a meeting with Ukad to discuss a number of concerns, including some relating to then British Cycling head coach Shane Sutton.

The revelations came as Cooke acted as a witness for former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman at his fitness-to-practice tribunal.

Freeman has admitted 18 of 22 charges against him but denies ordering testosterone ‘knowing or believing’ it was to be used to dope a rider, claiming instead it was to treat Sutton’s erectile dysfunction. Sutton has rejected the claim.

Cooke said his daughter was contacted by Ukad investigators after her retirement, having attacked the sport’s drug cheats in an impassioned speech, but he was unhappy with the outcome. ‘I was concerned it wouldn’t be followed up,’ he said. ‘I was surprised when [they] told me they could not give me a copy of the evidence I had provided. I felt that was somehow not following natural justice.’

Under cross-examination from Simon Jackson QC, counsel for the General Medical Council, Cooke said several of the issues discussed related to Sutton. Jackson quoted an email Cooke sent to the Ukad chief executive, in which he wrote: ‘Nicole and I believed (Sutton) to be a character we could never trust. Possibly we were overly cautious. Certainly neither Nicole or myself have seen him use performance-enhancing drugs. Nor has he ever suggested to Nicole she should.’

Cooke said it was part of a longer email, adding: ‘I am giving Sutton the benefit of the doubt there.’