Monday 14 January 2019 21:14, UK
Former British Cycling and Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman will face misconduct charges brought by the General Medical Council (GMC) at an independent tribunal starting on February 6 in Manchester.
The tribunal, which is scheduled to run until March 5, is to hear GMC claims that Freeman was involved in a cover-up after allegedly ordering large quantities of testosterone, a performance-enhancing drug banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), to be delivered to the National Cycling Centre in May 2011.
According to information published by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, the GMC has alleged Freeman obtained 30 sachets of Testogel "to administer to an athlete to improve their athletic performance".
As well as the allegations surrounding the Testogel delivery, the tribunal will also hear claims that Dr Freeman "inappropriately provided medical treatment that did not constitute first aid to non-athlete members of staff".
The GMC also believes he did not keep appropriate records, particularly in relation to prescription-only medication, and that he compromised patient confidentiality when his laptop was stolen whilst on holiday in Greece in 2014.
The tribunal has the power to suspend or remove the ability of any doctor to work within the United Kingdom.
Freeman was also the doctor at the centre of the so-called 'Jiffy Bag' scandal which saw accusations of a suspected anti-doping violation regarding a mystery package reportedly destined for star rider Bradley Wiggins in 2011.
However, a UK Anti-Doping investigation concluded without any charges having been brought. Freeman has previously denied all doping charges against him.
He resigned from British Cycling in October 2017 after telling the national governing body he was too ill to face disciplinary action for poor medical record-keeping.
Additional reporting by AFP.
