A FORMER British Cycling and Team Sky doctor from East Lancashire has admitted to a string of disciplinary offences.

Dr Richard Freeman has confessed to ordering 30 sachets of the banned testosterone product Testogel in 2011 and then claiming they had been delivered in error to British Cycling headquarters.

And the doctor, who lived in the Ribble Valley, has admitted lying to UK Anti-Doping in 2017 that the Testogel had been returned to supplier Fit4Sport, as part of a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service fitness to practice hearing.

But he has denied obtaining the gel knowing or believing it was to be given to an athlete to enhance performance.

Dr Freeman’s QC, Mary O’Rourke, said his defence team would question the credibility of former British Cycling and Team Sky head coach Shane Sutton as part of their case.

Freeman continues to claim that the Testogel was ordered for a non-athlete member of staff, namely Sutton.

Ms O’Rourke said she received information relating to Sutton which she is in the process of investigating but that she believes to be credible.

She added: “I have seen enough to satisfy my duty as counsel to put further statements to Mr Sutton.”

She has also been trying to contact Damian Collins, the chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, before whom Sutton has previously appeared, regarding potential additional information.

Ms O’Rourke added: “I’m given to believe he received a quantity of information that did not get published in the report related to Mr Sutton.”

The QC could also press for an order to be made demanding a document from a national newspaper.

Sutton was expected to be the only witness cross-examined by the defence.
But Dr Freeman’s counsel is now likely to put questions to Dr Steve Peters, who is the former head of medicine at British Cycling.

The hearing, being held in Manchester, is to determine Dr Freeman’s fitness to practise medicine.

He has also admitted to a range of charges in relation to his record keeping and the treatment of non-athlete members of staff while he was at British Cycling.

Dr Freeman resigned from his position in October 2017.

Sutton is likely to give evidence at the hearing next week.