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Team Sky Doctor Was Allegedly Sent Banned Testosterone Patches In '11

The "drugs furore" surrounding British Cycling and Team Sky has "entered new territory" with claims that U.K. anti-doping investigators uncovered evidence that testosterone patches were delivered in '11 to Richard Freeman, the doctor "at the heart" of UK Anti-Doping’s inquiry into allegations of wrongdoing at the two organizations, according to William Fotheringham of the London GUARDIAN. Using testosterone "is banned at all times under the world anti-doping code." Freeman was contacted but "did not comment." It is understood that the box of testosterone patches "was opened by a British Cycling employee who was unaware of its contents." The employee "confronted Freeman," who was responsible for ordering medical supplies. The doctor’s explanation, according to a former head of medicine at British Cycling, was that the package "had been delivered in error." Freeman told UKAD that it "was not destined for any riders." Steve Peters, who was head of medical at British Cycling and Team Sky, said that he and a British Cycling colleague "were on site when the package arrived and that they questioned Freeman over it." It was established that the supplier "sent it by mistake and it was returned, something which he had confirmed with Freeman." Peters said that he was satisfied that it was "an administrative error." Team Sky added on Sunday that it had "not been aware of the episode and that it did not relate" to the team, being a British Cycling matter. The claim "emerged just days after" a hearing by the Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee "at which Freeman was initially expected to appear," to answer questions about a package delivered to then-Team Sky leader Bradley Wiggins, at the 2011 Dauphine Libéré race (GUARDIAN, 3/5). 

'PARTLY TO BLAME': The BBC's Dan Roan reported UK Sport CEO Liz Nicholl said that she will apologize to "anyone who believes the agency is partly to blame for failings at British Cycling." Nicholl said that her organization was not responsible for standards at the governing body because "we don't live in the velodrome." But she did admit UK Sport could have been "more inquisitive." An independent investigation "into the culture at British Cycling began last year." A report on the findings "has been delayed for legal reasons, but publication is imminent." And a 39-point "action plan" of reforms "overhauling governance and welfare policies has now been introduced." Nicholl: "This is a governing body that has not had its eye on culture and behaviors. But it is listening, and has committed to actions that should address that, so I'm optimistic for the future." The controversy comes with UK Sport "facing scrutiny over its removal of funding for various sports, including badminton and wheelchair rugby." The latter "started a crowd-funding campaign to replace" the £3M ($3.7M) it lost. UK Sport warned British Cycling the £26M ($32M) it is "due to receive for elite performance leading up to the Tokyo 2020 Games is now in jeopardy." Nicholl denied that her organization's "no-compromise" strategy may be partly responsible for a "win-at-all-costs" culture at the "troubled" governing body. She said, "We fund 36 other sports ... we provide support and guidance, we check, we challenge, but we don't live in the velodrome. ... Could we have been more inquisitive? Yes. But we're an investor, and not embedded in any sport. We're only as good as the information that is shared with us" (BBC, 3/3).

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