UKAD defers British Cycling doctor Freeman hearing until court appeal is heard

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) have called a temporary halt to its proceedings against shamed former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman until his appeal against being struck off the medical register concludes.

Freeman was permanently banned from the medical register in March after a tribunal ruled he had ordered Testogel "knowing or believing" it was to be given to an unnamed rider in 2011.

Freeman is facing two UK Anti-Doping charges regarding ordering the banned product testosterone.

However, due to Freeman appealing in late April, with the hearing expected to take place in November or December, UKAD decided they would wait until the outcome of that before resuming their own case.

"UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has today confirmed that its proceedings against former British Cycling and Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman have been paused until the conclusion of a High Court appeal lodged by him against a decision made by the independent Medical Practitioners Tribunal (MPT) in March 2021," read their statement on Tuesday.

"The date for the High Court appeal hearing is not known.

"UKAD's case is being heard by the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP).

"Dr Freeman is charged with two anti-doping rule violations, and remains provisionally suspended by UKAD."

Freeman was simultaneously employed by British Cycling and Team Sky now Ineos Grenadiers between 2009 and 2015.
He resigned from British Cycling in 2017 because of ill-health, having already left Team Sky.

Freeman admitted 18 of 22 charges against him but denied the central charge regarding the purpose of the Testogel order.

He claimed the Testogel was ordered to treat former performance director Shane Sutton's erectile dysfunction, which the Australian vociferously denied, before storming out during a tumultuous day of evidence in 2019.

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