Re:
fmk_RoI said:
Haven't seen this statement from "Team Sky whistleblower" before apols if already posted. Could be true could be a smokescreen. Worth reading for the comedy typos!
"Dear Damian
Subject: Team Sky British Cycling ethics and practice
As you can understand i am writing this email anonymously, i have been driven to write this because i was very disappointed by Dave B's and Shane's interviews with the select committee. I understand that Richard Freeman and Simon Cope have been invited for interview. I would like to provide you with some information that you may not be aware of.
I am providing information as a Sky insider unfortunately a lot of things i am saying will be difficult to substantiate without admission from Sky but hopefully will provide you with information that you may be able to get closer to the full truth.
To start with we need to look at the medical team at Sky and the ethics with in the team.
2010, two Dr's, David Hulse and Richard Freeman, both came from a non cycling background, Dr Steve Peters was head of medicine. The senior riders complained that the team did not do IV recovery. The thought at the time by some riders and some cycling Dr's was IV recovery was essential to cope with Grand tours. Dr David refused to give IV recovery and was sidelined for the 2010 TdF Richard Freeman was sent on a 'secrete' visit to South Africa to meet experts on recovery he agreed to give 'recovery' and worked the Tour. At the end of the season Dr David was sacked (paid off) publicly this was ascribed to the death of Txema. The team then engaged Fabio Bartolucci (interestingly he had been the personal coach of Nicole Cooke) and Geert Leinders. Fabio was brought in because he had special expertise in IV recovery and was reputed to being paid 200k for 100 days. In 2011 the needles ban came in just before the Giro and Fabio left quickly after that. At this time IV recovery was not a banned practice and it is only banned now in competition time.
Dave B has always looked at how the medical team can support performance in 2015 he hired Roger Palfreeman as a race Dr with a special focus on performance. Interestingly Roger had previously worked with UK anti doping and reported that they had a file on Dr Freeman questioning some of his practice. Up until recently Dr Freeman still provided some work for Sky and is the BC Dr. He still uses injectable recovery for the endurance track squad such as B12 but not during competition so no rules are broken this was not given on medical grounds
The controversy of the 'Jiffy' bag at the end of the 2011 Dauphine is simple this was just after the needles ban came in place earlier that year it was stated that individuals including Dr's being caught at cycle races with injectable equipment could face up to a 5 years prison sentence. The offence is only committed if used in 'competition' time if used the day after it is not an offence. The Jiffy bag would have contained flumacil as reported but it would also have contained needles and other injectable recovery products such as B12. As was reported flumacil can be used as a decongestant but in suspension it as also been injected, flumacil is a simple amino acid (n-actylecystine) which is essential for glutathione syntheses which is a powerful intracellular antioxidant and can aid recovery.
Under the current rules i do not think that there as been a breach however i do believe that TUE's were used tactically by the team to support the health of a rider with an ultimate aim of supporting performance. At that time there were regular rider review meetings and all details of the rider were discussed medical confidentiality was wavered (this is common practice in sport) and the seriousness of Brad's allergies were not discussed. The use of the Triamcinolone acetonide was never discussed in these meetings however it had been discussed out side of the rider review meetings as a general discussion because it had been used for years in cycling and the consensus was it would be in appropriate to use.
In 2012 The team was under extreme pressure to perform Dave B and Shane Sutton put a great deal of pressure on the medical team in particular Richard Freeman to provide more proactive medical support. Using TUE's was openly discussed in hushed voices as a means of supporting health and wellbeing.
During the 2012 TDF the Dr for the race was Allan Farrel he accompanied the British Road Team to the Fox Hills Resort to provide medical support for the squad during the camp which was used as the pre-olympic holding camp for the road Team. Richard Freeman was with the track Team. In between the end of the Tour de France and the start of the Olympics Mark Cavendish charted a private flight from Franham airport to see Richard for recovery. Again this was outside competition time so it was not illegal, but the ethics are very questionable.
Steve Peters was fully aware of every thing that was going on regarding the medical team at that time and interestingly for the London Olympics he was on the medical committee that approved TUE's .
Simon Cope unfortunately is just an unwitting porn in this, it is common practice to carry sealed packages around, however people are usually asked to take things when they are already traveling. The controversy here is Simon was sent as a specific courier. At that time the culture was if Shane told people to do something you just did it.
At the committee interview Shane hid behind trusting the medical team this is utter nonsense he directed the medical team he constantly bullied Richard Freeman
April 2017"