Tuesday 1 November 2016 11:48, UK
Shane Sutton is certain Sir Bradley Wiggins would have won the 2012 Tour de France with or without a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
Wiggins' record of using TUEs was leaked last month when a Russian hacking organisation called Fancy Bears released confidential World Anti-Doping Agency data.
Dozens of athletes from a number of sports have since had their records released but there is no suggestion any of them have done anything wrong, with Wiggins receiving an injection of triamcinolone to help him combat allergies before his Tour victory.
Asked if he thought Wiggins would have won the 2012 Tour anyway, Sutton told Sky Sports News HQ in a TV exclusive interview: "Most definitely, for sure. I don't see Brad as gaining an advantage by doing what he had to do.
"He was suffering at the time and obviously he was given a TUE to get him back to where he would normally be at and to cope with the conditions that were going to prevail.
"At that time of year his allergies would be at their height and, as far as I am concerned Brad just got out there and did the business. The authorities say there has been no wrongdoing here."
Sutton also hopes criticism over his use of TUEs will have no effect on the way Wiggins' glittering career is remembered when he eventually retires.
As well as his 2012 Tour victory, Wiggins also has five Olympic gold medals and eight from the World Championships across multiple road and track disciplines.
The 36-year-old previously said he would quit cycling after riding alongside Mark Cavendish at the Six Days of Ghent next month but hinted he could come back to take part in next year's Six Day London after finishing second in that event alongside the Manxman on Sunday.
Sutton added: "It shouldn't be tarnished, but whether it will be or not - that's not for me to judge. My opinion, and I've said this earlier on, is that he worked within the rules.
"We all say things at times that come back and bite us on the backside but he must go down as one of the greatest athletes of all time and I don't feel he should be tarnished by the fact he has had a TUE.
"He's not broken any rules and I'm pretty sure he will gain massive support when he retires and this thing is put behind him."
