Following an independent review, British Cycling is set to overhaul its medical governance, which will see it, among making other steps, appoint a new ‘Head of Medicine.’
The governing body will also create a Clinical Governance Committee, which will report to the board, and a rider health function within the medical team, in order to reduce the risk of injury and perform research into ‘mental health mitigation’.
Under the structural changes, the future of Dr Richard Freeman, who has described himself as British Cycling’s Head of Medicine, is uncertain. According to a report by the Press Association, a spokesperson for British Cycling says that the changes do not mean that he has no future at the organisation. The same article states that the new role will be more senior than the one Dr Freeman currently holds and will have a different reporting line and responsibilities.
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Dr Freeman was thrown into the spotlight last year after it was revealed by the Daily Mail that he had received a medical package for Bradley Wiggins following the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine. After denying the existence of the package initially, Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford claimed during a hearing with British MPs that the package contained the decongestant Fluimicil. It has also been claimed that Dr Freeman gave injections of triamcinolone to staff members at British Cycling. Brailsford later confirmed that he had been given an injection of the corticosteroid to treat a knee injury. Dr Freeman is currently signed off work with a stress-related illness.
Both British Cycling and Team Sky are at the centre of an investigation by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), the results of which are yet to be released.
The overhaul of the medical structure by British Cycling will be seen as a positive pre-emptive step ahead of the official report. The English Institute of Sport’s Director of Medical Services, Dr Rod Jaques, who took on the investigation, said that he was delighted that his recommendations had been taken on board.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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