Doping: British cycling doctor Freeman banned for four years

Former British Cycling Federation and Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman has been banned from all sports for four years for violating anti-doping rules. This was announced by an independent arbitral tribunal of the British Anti-Doping Committee (NADP) on Tuesday. Freeman was convicted of possession of a prohibited substance and doping control tampering on two separate counts.

In 2011, Freeman ordered 30 sachets of testosterone gel to the Manchester Velodrome. The investigation against him began in September 2016. In 2021, a Manchester court concluded that Freeman ordered and received Testogel in the belief or knowledge that it was being administered to an athlete to enhance performance. The former doctor got caught up in a “pattern of lies” to cover up his actions.

As the British anti-doping agency Ukad announced on Tuesday, Freeman’s ban applies retrospectively from December 22, 2020 – the date of his provisional ban – to December 21, 2024. During this time he is not allowed to perform any function in the sport. Freeman had previously lost his license to practice medicine. Freeman, who worked for British Cycling and Team Sky, now renamed Ineos, between 2009 and 2017, has always denied any prohibited activity.