Team Sky Principal Dave Brailsford "has given no indication that he might be prepared to resign in an attempt to save Team Sky as the fallout to Bradley Wiggins’ therapeutic use exemptions and the UK Anti-Doping investigation into other allegations of wrongdoing rumbles on," according to Tom Cary of the London TELEGRAPH. Brailsford "did admit, however, to throwing 'a huge amount of petrol on the fire' and making things a 'damn sight worse' with the way he has handled the controversy."
In particular, Brailsford said that "he should not have passed on information he had gleaned about a medical package delivered to the team at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphiné before he had checked his facts." That package is now the subject of a UKAD investigation, along "with allegations of potential abuse of the legal painkiller tramadol." Brailsford’s latest interview "is unlikely to quell the furore."
He again declined the opportunity to reveal what was in the package taken out to the Dauphiné, saying he had been “told” what it was by Dr. Richard Freeman, who asked for it to be delivered, but could not be sure himself. He said, "It’s in the hands of [UKAD] to check that what is being said is the truth. I don’t think it helps at this moment in time to say it was ‘x.’"
He did admit, though, that he "had been foolish in the way he handled enquiries from the press." Brailsford said, when first asked to explain the package, that Simon Cope, the British Cycling coach who traveled out with it, had flown out to France to visit GB rider Emma Pooley. Brailsford: "I was keen to provide a running commentary. Someone mentioned that he might have popped over for a meeting with Emma Pooley. So I relayed this information before I had the full facts. I should have rung Emma and asked. I have her number on my phone. It would have taken two minutes. I shouldn’t have been so hasty in sharing that. From what was a small little fire if you like, I have thrown a huge amount of petrol on it. And now it’s 2 + 2 = 10 if you like" (TELEGRAPH, 10/16).
