UK Anti-Doping v Dr Richard Freeman

A decision in the case of UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) against Dr Richard Freeman has been issued by the National Anti-Doping Panel.

On 22 December 2020, UKAD issued Dr Freeman, former Team Doctor and Head of Medicine for British Cycling and Team Doctor Team at Sky, with a Notice of Charge for committing Anti-Doping Rule Violations for Possession of a Prohibited Substance pursuant to Article 2.6 of the 2009 ADR and Tampering contrary to Article 2.5 of the 2015 ADR.

The National Anti-Doping Panel, comprised of Mr Charles Flint KC (Chair), Professor Dorian Haskard and Mr David Casement KC, was appointed to hear this matter.

The Anti-Doping Rule Violations stemmed from concerns in relation to an order placed by Dr Freeman to Fit 4 Sport Limited for 30 sachets of ‘Testogel’ in 2011, and that the information provided by Dr Freeman to UKAD investigators was false. Concerns about Dr Freeman were brought to the attention of the General Medical Council (“GMC”) in 2016 and in 2021 the GMC directed that Dr Freeman’s name be erased from the medical register. Proceedings before the NADP were stayed whilst an appeal of that decision was considered.

Dr Freeman admitted the first Tampering charge under the 2015 ADR. By his own admission, Dr Freeman made untrue and dishonest statements to UKAD investigators and that conduct constituted Tampering which subverted the Doping Control process. Dr Freeman however, denied the Possession charge under the 2009 ADR on the grounds that he was not in Possession of any Prohibited Substance ‘in connection with an Athlete, Event or training’, and he also denied the second Tampering charge under the 2015 ADR in that the Testogel was ordered by him for use by a ‘non-rider member of staff’.

The Tribunal found that Dr Freeman had committed the violation of Possession of a Prohibited Substance contrary to 2009 ADR Article 2.6.3 and the first and second Tampering violations contrary to 2015 ADR Article 2.5. A period of Ineligibility of four years is imposed on Dr Freeman which is deemed to have commenced on 22 December 2020, giving credit to Dr Freeman for the period of Provisional Suspension that he has served to date. 

The National Anti-Doping Panel is operated by Sport Resolutions.

A copy of the full decision can be accessed via the related links tab on the right-hand side.