Cyclist turned rower Bradley Wiggins has let fly in this statement. It comes after a UK Anti Doping inquiry into the contents of a jiffy bag in France back in 2011 concluded with no charges.
Bradley Wiggins statement in full after jiffy bag doping probe
The 2012 Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins has issued a defiant statement as the UK Anti Doping inquiry ongoing for over a year has concluded.
UKAD said it was unable to refute or confirm the claims by Team Sky and British Cycling that the decongestant product Fluimucil - which is not banned - was in a jiffy bag. The bag in question was sent to the team six years ago.
As a result, UK Anti Doping said no doping charges were being brought.
The jiffy bag was delivered to Team Sky in France in 2011 the day Wiggins won the Critérium du Dauphiné.
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Wiggins expressed his disappointment at the statement made by UK Anti Doping.
He said no evidence of doping had been found and this should have resulted in an unqualified finding of innocence on his part.
He has also said if medical records had been kept, the investigation would never have begun.
Wiggins said he was now considering his legal options.
And given the content of his statement, it appears he feels Team Sky, British Cycling and UK Anti Doping have questions to answer.
It is Team Sky and British Cycling who have been in the firing line over the lack of medical records.
Wiggins has asked UK Anti Doping to reveal who made the allegation against him. He also wants to know on what grounds the allegation was treated as credible.
Bradley Wiggins statement in full
Following this morning’s statement from UKAD it is only now that I have the opportunity to break my silence, give my reaction to the events of the last 14 months and to ask a few questions of my own.
I welcome UKAD’s confirmation that no anti-doping charges are to be brought regarding the so-called ‘jiffy bag’ allegations.
It has always been the case that no such charges could be brought against me as no anti-doping violations took place.
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I am pleased that this has finally been confirmed publicly but there are a large number of questions regarding the investigation which I feel remain unanswered.
Being accused of any doping indiscretion is the worst possible thing for any professional sportsperson, especially when it is without any solid factual basis and you know the allegation to be categorically untrue.
I have kept my silence throughout this period to allow UKAD conduct their investigation in the most professional way possible and so as not to undermine it.
This is despite widespread and unfounded speculation in the press, being hounded on my door step and having commentators and professional riders wading in without knowing all the facts.
This period of time has been a living hell for me and my family, full of innuendo and speculation. At times it has felt nothing less than a malicious witch hunt.
To say I am disappointed by some of the comments made by UKAD this morning is an understatement.
No evidence exists to prove a case against me and in all other circumstances this would be an unqualified finding of innocence.
The amount of time it has taken to come to today’s conclusion has caused serious personal damage, especially as the investigation seems to be predicated on a news headline rather than real solid information.
UKAD’s findings this morning have left me with a series of my own questions:
- Where did the information come from to launch the investigation?
- Who was the source?
- What exactly did that person say, and to whom?
- Why did UKAD deem it appropriate to treat it as a credible allegation?
- Surely it is now in the public interest to reveal this source?
- Why has it taken so long for these conclusions to be drawn?
- How much tax payers’ money has been spent so far on this investigation?
I want to make it plain and clear that I have done everything in my power to assist UKAD with the investigation.
I was interviewed for over 90 minutes on November 28th, 2016. And I also handed over to UKAD’s investigators all the relevant medical records available to me.
I have not subsequently been contacted by UKAD to query anything I said or any information I provided. Nor have I been asked for any additional information.
During my career, like any other professional sportsperson, I relied heavily on the professional team around me, whether that be coaches, trainers or more pertinently medical practitioners.
The medical documentation concerning my treatment was something absolutely out of my control.
I put ultimate trust in the team around me to do their jobs in their specific field of expertise to the same standard that I would expect of myself on the bike.
Had the infrastructure for precise record keeping been in place, this investigation would never have started.
Much criticism has been made of Dr Freeman. I have always felt, and still feel, that he is a very good physician and treated me and others with great care and respect.
For now I would implore the media to give me and my family space, and respect our privacy.
I plan on making no further public statement at this point as I assess which legal options to pursue.
I would also like to take the opportunity to thank those who have stood by me and my family while this dark cloud has been over us.
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