Richard Freeman (physician)

Richard Freeman is a sports physician and doctor known for his work with British Cycling and Team Sky.

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He is accused of ordering testosterone for cyclists of Team Sky in 2011.[1] Testosterone is a banned drug under the laws of the World Anti Doping Agency.[2] He faced a tribunal in Manchester, United Kingdom in November and December 2019, but, due to his deteriorating health, the tribunal was postponed to April 2020.[3][4]

Career

Richard Freeman worked as the head of medicine and head of sports science at Bolton Wanderers F.C. from 2001-09.[5] He began working for British Cycling and Team Sky in 2009.[5]

Bradley Wiggins in 2011. He was granted the Therapeutic use exemption shortly before the 2011 Tour de France.[6]

The General Medical Council alleged that, in May 2011, Freeman ordered 30 Testogel (testosterone) sachets from Fit4Sports Limited to the National Cycling Centre, Manchester. It is also alleged that Freeman claimed that the delivery was a mistake and later asked for confirmation to be sent from Fit4Sports asking for the return of the delivery.[7][5]

On 12 June 2011, Freeman received a jiffy bag from British Cycling coach Simon Cope. An investigation into the jiffy bag, conducted by UK Anti-Doping, revealed that the bag had been moved by Cope in an airplane to Geneva, Switzerland where it was driven to La Toissure, France. The contents of the package is disputed.[8][9] Later in June, Freeman arranged a Therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for Bradley Wiggins to take triamcinolone. Freeman denies any wrongdoing surrounding the powerful drug, stating that he was "abiding by the TUE system".[10][8] Freeman has said that his laptop, where medical records of the cyclists were kept, was stolen from a Greek hotel in 2014.[5] Thus, the contents of the jiffy bag is not certain. Freeman claims that it contained Fluimucil, but the medication is common throughout Europe; this questions the need to have the package sent by air.[9]

He resigned from British Cycling in October 2017, citing "stress related issues".[11][12]

Medical tribunal

The tribunal began in early November 2019, with 22 allegations against Freeman surrounding the incidents in May 2011. He admitted to 18 of the allegations, including the claim "that he asked supplier Fit4Sport to falsely claim the Testogel has been sent in error".[13] The employee who sent the false email claims that "she trusted Dr Freeman because he is a doctor" and also that the 30 Testogel sachets were never returned to the company.[13]

Although Freeman admitted to the allegations, he claimed that the testosterone was intended for former British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton, which Sutton strongly denied.[14] Freeman's lawyer, Mary O'Rourke, had "confrontational exchanges" with Sutton, resulting in him calling Freeman "spineless" before leaving the tribunal.[14] Tensions between Sutton and Freeman were high throughout the tribunal and the latter did not return to the tribunal after the premature leave.[15]

After admitting to 18 of the 22 allegations against him, Freeman requested to have the remaining four dropped in early December, but the tribunal refused.[16] Freeman maintained that he did not order the drug "knowing or believing that it was intended for an athlete".[17] The tribunal was due to restart on 28 April 2020 as O'Rourke was not going "to take risks or play games with [Freeman's] health", after his absence at many hearings.[18][19][20]

The tribunal resumed in October 2020. Freeman said he used "a screwdriver or blunt instrument" to destroy a laptop that may have contained information important to the investigation.[21] Freeman stated that he destroyed the laptop out of fear that information could be hacked, and stated the incident had occurred during a period of ill-health. On 8 October 2020 Freeman stated that he secretly took the 30 sachets of Testogel home on the day it was delivered to the National Cycling Centre and washed them down the sink.[22] On 11 October, Freeman claimed that he complained to senior management about alleged misuse of resources by Sutton, including an allegation he spent £6,000 of British Cycling money on personal cosmetic dentistry.[23] He also stated that he was asked by ex-medical director Steve Peters to treat senior management and staff as well as riders free of charge. Peters released a statement denying the allegations stating it was "simply untrue" that he "gave the green light to unregulated medicine, out of British Cycling supplies, to be given to senior management and selected staff".[24]

On 14 October, Freeman admitted to losing medical information from a third computer after the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) requested blood data from riders after the 2011 Giro d'Italia and the 2011 Tour de France.[25] On the final day of Freeman's cross examination which stretched into its seventh week, Freeman claimed he was unaware that testosterone could be used to enhance sports performance in 2011 at the time of his alleged misconduct. He stated he "came into cycling quite fresh" and that he never discussed the topic of drug doping with Peters at the time. [26]

The tribunal was adjourned again on 26 November 2020 to resume once more on 22 January 2021. On 20 January 2021, a request by lawyers representing Freeman for a further adjournment was turned down by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service. Freeman was asked to help administer COVID-19 vaccines and his lawyers argued "the Covid crisis position should take precedence". However, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service said an adjournment was neither "proportionate or in the interests of justice". [27] The tribunal resumed on 22 January 2021. The General Medical Council summed up it's case, claiming that Freeman had worked with “sleepers” in Team Sky and British Cycling, who had previously used banned drugs, when buying testosterone to boost the performance of an unnamed rider. [28] However, on 27 January 2021 the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service confirmed the tribunal would be delayed once again until 6 Feburary 2021, due to "unforseen circumstances". [29]

A decision on Freeman's fitness to practice medicine is expected in March 2021.[30]

References
  1. "Richard Freeman: Ex-Team Sky & British Cycling doctor to say 'I told a lot of lies'". bbc.co.uk. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  2. Fotheringham, William (5 March 2017). "Team Sky doctor was allegedly sent banned testosterone patches". theguardian.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  3. "Dr Richard FREEMAN". mpts-uk.org. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  4. Gardner, Jamie (17 December 2019). "Dr Richard Freeman tribunal to restart in April 2020 as former British Cycling doctor 'too ill to attend'". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  5. "Richard Freeman: Bradley Wiggins doctor had 'suicidal thoughts'". bbc.co.uk. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  6. Fotheringham, William (18 October 2016). "Chris Froome says questions remain over Bradley Wiggins' use of TUEs". theguardian.com. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  7. Slater, Matt (14 January 2019). "Former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor accused of ordering testosterone for rider". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  8. Cary, Tom (15 November 2017). "Mystery of the Jiffy bag leaves a cloud over Team Sky – but what are the unanswered questions in sorry saga?". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  9. McDonald, Karl (3 March 2017). "Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky and the mystery jiffy bag: explained". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  10. "Dr Richard Freeman interview transcript". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  11. "Richard Freeman resigns from British Cycling". cyclingnews.com. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  12. Cary, Tom (19 October 2017). "Doctor at centre of 'Jiffy bag' controversy resigns from British Cycling post due to ill health". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  13. Skelton, Jack (8 November 2019). "Dr Richard Freeman 'bullied by Shane Sutton to order testosterone' hearing told". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  14. Skelton, Jack (12 November 2019). "Shane Sutton: Ex-British Cycling coach storms out of medical tribunal after 'doper' claim". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  15. "Sutton won't appear at Freeman medical tribunal on Thursday following walkout". oxfordmail.co.uk. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  16. Magowan, Alistair (13 December 2019). "Dr Freeman tribunal: Former British Cycling medic fails in bid to have charges thrown out". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  17. Cary, Tom (5 December 2019). "Dr Richard Freeman medical tribunal risks being postponed to 2020 after more legal delays". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  18. Dineen, Robert (16 December 2019). "Richard Freeman's medical tribunal could drag on for 10 months after adjournment". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  19. "Freeman tribunal on hold until 2020". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  20. Magowan, Alistair (17 December 2019). "Dr Richard Freeman tribunal to resume in April and will conclude in October 2020". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  21. Roan, Dan. "Dr Richard Freeman destroyed laptop, hearing told". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  22. "Richard Freeman: Doctor accused of exploiting position in testosterone cover-up". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  23. "Richard Freeman tribunal: British Cycling's Shane Sutton blamed 'downfall' on doctor". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  24. "Richard Freeman tribunal: British Cycling's Shane Sutton blamed 'downfall' on doctor". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  25. "Dr Richard Freeman admits third data loss after UCI request over bloods". www.theguardian.com. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  26. "Dr Freeman tribunal: Ex-British Cycling doctor unaware of testosterone benefits". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  27. "Dr Richard Freeman tribunal: Lawyers for ex-GB Cycling chief doctor have adjournment request turned down". bbc.co.uk/sport. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  28. "Dr Freeman worked with 'sleepers' when buying Testogel, tribunal told". www.theguardian.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  29. "Dr Richard Freeman verdict delayed again as tribunal drags into third year, tribunal told". www.theguardian.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  30. "Dr Richard FREEMAN". mpts-uk.org. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
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