The Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee of British Parliament has told Cyclingnews that unless a paper trail is provided that proves a medical package administered to Bradley Wiggins at the Dauphine in 2011 contained Fluimucil, then Team Sky will have serious questions to face over both their ethics and their claim to be the 'cleanest team in cycling'.
Damian Collins MP, Chair of the Committee looking into doping in sport, has told Cyclingnews that, "if it's not possible to determine absolutely what it was [ed. the package] then that raises concerns about the way in which the ethics, the actual doping laws are enforced.
"I think people's faith will be challenged if there's no records," Collins said. "For what comes out of this whole affair is how do you know you're running the cleanest team in cycling if you don't have records to show what the doctors are giving the cyclists? That's not about whether the rules have been broken. They themselves set the standard, so to do that, you need to keep a close eye on what's going on. Even though admittedly over an event that took place a few years ago, but involving their lead rider, if they don't have those records, then that would be a concern."
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The Committee has so far called several witnesses, including Dave Brailsford, Shane Sutton and British Cycling head Bob Howden. Last week Nicole Cooke gave evidence, and on Monday Collins confirmed that Dr Freeman, the head of UK Anti-Doping and Simon Cope have all been asked to appear on February 22. However, British Cycling have not been able to provide a paper trail to back up the claim that the contents - which came from their medical store in Manchester – were indeed Fluimucil.
At present the only individual to state that the package contained the decongestant is Dave Brailsford, who told the committee in December that the information came to him via Dr Freeman. However, Brailsford's role in the story, which has lead to UKAD launching a full investigation into potential wrongdoing between Team Sky and British Cycling, has been muddled at best.
When asked if Brailsford's position had become untenable in light of the ongoing investigation, Collins would not be drawn on the risk surrounding the Team Sky boss's reputation specifically, but was clear in his view that it will be crucial for Sky to demonstrate that they kept appropriate records of all medication administered.
"At this moment I don't want to determine what the result of the investigation will be, but I think it posses very difficult questions for the team if they're not able to show any records to determine what was in the package. If they don't keep those records as a matter of course, then how do they police the rules that they set themselves?"
Cope calling
- Cope: I don't know what was in the package for Team Sky
- Simon Cope to speak to UK Anti-Doping as investigation continues
- UKAD investigation rolls on as Brailsford's parliamentary questioning looms
- Timeline of UKAD investigation into Team Sky and British Cycling
- Brailsford dodges questions about UKAD investigation at Team Sky's Mallorca camp
- Cope: Select committee? I am meant to be at a Wiggins camp
Brailsford under siege
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