Richard Freeman worked as the head of medicine and head of sports science at Bolton Wanderers F.C. from 2001-09. He began working for British Cycling and Team Sky in 2009. in 2011. He was granted the Therapeutic use exemption shortly before the 2011 Tour de France. The General Medical Council alleged that, in May 2011, Freeman ordered 30 Testogel sachets from Fit4Sports Limited to the National Cycling Centre, Manchester. It is also alleged that Freeman claimed that the delivery was a mistake and later asked for confirmation to be sent from Fit4Sports asking for the return of the delivery. On 12 June 2011, Freeman received a jiffy bag from British Cycling coach Simon Cope. An investigation into the jiffy bag, conducted by UK Anti-Doping, revealed that the bag had been moved by Cope in an airplane to Geneva, Switzerland where it was driven to La Toissure, France. The contents of the package is disputed. Later in June, Freeman arranged a Therapeutic use exemption for Bradley Wiggins to take triamcinolone. Freeman denies any wrongdoing surrounding the powerful drug, stating that he was "abiding by the TUE system". Freeman has said that his laptop, where medical records of the cyclists were kept, was stolen from a Greek hotel in 2014. Thus, the contents of the jiffy bag is not certain. Freeman claims that it contained Fluimucil, but the medication is common throughout Europe; this questions the need to have the package sent by air. He resigned from British Cycling in October 2017, citing "stress related issues".
Medical tribunal
The tribunal began in early November 2019, with 22 allegations against Freeman surrounding the incidents in May 2011. He admitted to 18 of the allegations, including the claim "that he asked supplier Fit4Sport to falsely claim the Testogel has been sent in error". The employee who sent the false email claims that "she trusted Dr Freeman because he is a doctor" and also that the 30 Testogel sachets were never returned to the company. Although Freeman admitted to the allegations, he claimed that the testosterone was intended for former British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton, which Sutton strongly denied. Freeman's lawyer, Mary O'Rourke, had "confrontational exchanges" with Sutton, resulting in him calling Freeman "spineless" before leaving the tribunal. Tensions between Sutton and Freeman were high throughout the tribunal and the latter did not return to the tribunal after the premature leave. After admitting to 18 of the 22 allegations against him, Freeman requested to have the remaining four dropped in early December, but the tribunal refused. Freeman maintained that he did not order the drug "knowing or believing that it was intended for an athlete". The tribunal was due to restart on 28 April 2020 as O'Rourke was not going "to take risks or play games with health", after his absence at many hearings.
