Dr Richard Freeman, whom the jiffy bag for Bradley Wiggins was delivered to, has now quit British Cycling. And he is too unwell to help the UK Anti Doping inquiry into the jiffy bag.
Dr Richard Freeman departs British Cycling as jiffy bag inquiry continues
The medic caught up in British Cycling’s and Team Sky’s jiffy bag controversy, Dr Richard Freeman, has resigned from the national federation in a surprise move.
It is reported that he is “unwell” and will not be in a position to assist the UK Anti Doping inquiry into the delivery of a jiffy bag to Bradley Wiggins.
Team Sky has claimed there was an over-the-counter, perfectly legal, decongestant in the bag delivered to Wiggins in France over six years ago.
However, the inability of Team Sky and British Cycling to produce records confirming what was in the bag has seen their credibility badly damaged.
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British Cycling chief executive, Julie Harrington, has confirmed Freeman's departure to The Guardian. It has reported Dr Freeman felt unable to face a disciplinary inquiry into the failure to keep records.
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It was expected he would also speak to UK Anti Doping investigators early next month.
But the ill health said to have hastened his departure from British Cycling means he will not be able to assist the ongoing UK Anti Doping into the affair.
UK Anti Doping is examining the delivery of a medical package to Team Sky on the final stage of the 2011 Critérium du Dauphiné; a race Wiggins won overall that day.
The team has said the bag contained Fluimucil, an over the counter legal decongestant, and that it was for Wiggins to use in a nebuliser.
However, there are no records in relation to the delivery or the purchase of the medicine. The matter has badly damaged Team Sky and British Cycling.
“We were investigating him on employment matters and Ukad were investigating him on doping matters,” Harrington told The Guardian of Dr Freeman.
“After some months we were ready to continue with disciplinary action. Dr Freeman really wasn’t well enough to commence that and so we’ve allowed him to resign.
“We continue to support Ukad and when Dr Freeman is better I would hope he would continue to support Ukad with any ongoing investigation.
“It is an area that for the sake of our current riders, membership and reputation of our sport, that I would have hoped to have brought to a tidier end, but we also have a duty of care to him as an employee.”
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