LONDON: A mysterious package delivered to Bradley Wiggins’s doctor during the 2011 Dauphine Libere contained the decongestant Fluimucil, Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford said on Monday.
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) is probing alleged wrongdoing at Team Sky and British Cycling, who share headquarters, and the package, delivered by British Cycling coach Simon Cope, forms part of its investigation.
Brailsford had previously refused to clarify exactly what the package contained, but he now says Sky’s team doctor Richard Freeman told him it was Fluimucil, which is used for clearing mucus.
“Freeman told me it was Fluimucil for a nebulizer,” Brailsford told the British government’s Culture, Media and Sport committee during a hearing about doping in sport in central London.
“That was what was in the package. It was what Dr. Freeman told me.”
Brailsford said he had not been aware of the package’s contents at the time, but had ascertained what was in it after mounting an investigation.
Quizzed as to why Sky had asked Cope to bring medical supplies to France from Manchester, rather than buying them locally, Brailsford said Cope had been flying out anyway.
“It may be where the whole situation has been slightly misled ... that the whole purpose of Simon Cope’s trip to the end of the Dauphine wasn’t to deliver a package. He was coming anyway,” Brailsford said.
“He was coming and he was asked to bring something from the doctor’s store.”
Team Sky coach Shane Sutton and British Cycling president Bob Howden had earlier told the committee they did not know what the package contained.
The Daily Mail has reported the package was delivered on the day Wiggins won the Dauphine Libere stage race in France, giving him the biggest victory of his career at that point.
It has emerged Wiggins was granted therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) to take banned anti-inflammatory drug triamcinolone before the 2011 Tour de France, the 2012 Tour, which he won, and the 2013 Giro d’Italia.
Five-time Olympic champion Wiggins, Cope, Brailsford and British Cycling have all strongly denied breaking anti-doping rules.
Brailsford said Wiggins’s medical records have been given to UKAD.
Sutton, who stepped down from his role as British Cycling team director over sexism allegations earlier this year, said he was convinced Wiggins had not broken the rules.
“Knowing the kid (Wiggins) for many, many years, as far I’m concerned he never worked outside any rules,” Sutton said.
“Given the fact Dave Brailsford was probably the pioneer behind clean cycling and created what is probably the cleanest team in the world — he set up a zero-tolerance program — there was no wrongdoing there.
“I can’t state strongly enough there was no wrongdoing on any part of Brad and Team Sky.”
Australian Sutton appeared to become frustrated as the session progressed and at one point said he was “quite upset” Team Sky’s integrity was being questioned.
Wiggins package contained decongestant — Sky’s Brailsford
Wiggins package contained decongestant — Sky’s Brailsford
Al-Hilal win tightens Saudi Pro League title race
- The 3-2 victory over Al-Khaleej leaves Al-Hilal a single point behind Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr, who play on Saturday
DUBAI: The gap at the top of the Saudi Pro League table was cut to just one point on Friday night, following Al-Hilal’s 3-2 win over Al-Khaleej.
Simone Inzaghi’s team leapfrogged Al-Taawoun into second place to remain the closest challengers to Al-Nassr in the title fight, with the leaders set to host Al-Okhdood on Saturday.
Al-Hilal opened the scoring on 18 minutes when Mohammed Kanno met Hamad Al-Yami’s lay-off on the edge of the penalty area, his long-range shot beating Al-Khaleej goalkeeper Anthony Moris at his left-hand post.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic doubled the lead on 39 from Malcom’s assist to leave the visitors with a mountain to climb in the second half. Al-Hilal looked to have secured all three points comfortably when Malcom made it 3-0 on 57 minutes, but Al-Khaleej had other ideas.
Joshua King’s goal on 79 minutes looked to be nothing more than a consolation, but five minutes later Al-Hilal were left sweating after Giorgos Masouras cut their lead to a single goal. The visitors’ revival was short-lived, however, with no more additions to the score.
The defeat leaves Al-Khaleej in eighth place, with three matches still to be played on Saturday.
Earlier on Friday, Al-Taawoun briefly climbed to second place in the table after an away win against Al-Kholood at Al-Hazem Stadium. Their goals came from Christopher Zambrano after 22 minutes and a William Troost-Ekong’s own goal in the 75th; Al-Taawoun ended the match with 10 men after Muteb Al-Mufarrij was sent off in stoppage time, but the three points were already secured.
Al-Hilal’s win later in the day meant Al-Taawoun dropped to third, while Al-Kholood sit in 12th.
The first match of the day saw Al-Fateh shock reigning Asian champions Al-Ahli with a 2-1 win, after falling behind at home to Valentin Atangana’s 22nd-minute goal. However, the home team turned the match around with two goals from Maria Vargas either side of half time.
The win saw Al-Fateh rise to 14th while Al-Ahli stayed in fourth.
