Shane Sutton says he is unaware of the medical package’s contents delivered to Team Sky in 2011, but believes that Sky and British Cycling will be cleared in UK Anti-Doping’s (UKAD) investigation.
>>> Shane Sutton on British Cycling: ‘It’s just a shame it has ended like this’
News of the package, Bradley Wiggins’s TUEs and Jonathan Tiernan-Locke’s claims of Tramadol use over the last month kicked off the anti-doping agency’s investigation.
“I definitely don’t know what was in the package,” Sutton told Sky Sports News.
“It’s something that happens. Teams are requesting stuff from the service course on a regular basis.
“No one actually knows what was in the package. Obviously, the people that opened it and packed it will. But I’m quite sure there is no wrongdoing from that perspective.”
The Australian, who recently resigned as British Cycling’s technical director, worked for Team Sky in 2011.
The Daily Mail brought the package to light last month. It reported that Simon Cope, then working for British Cycling, flew to Geneva and drove to the final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné at the La Toussuire ski resort. He gave the medical package to Doctor Richard Freeman.
Wiggins won the Dauphiné that year. Eyebrows were raised because the package delivery came on the heels of a data leak that showed Wiggins applied for a TUE to allow him to inject corticosteroid triamcinolone ahead of the 2011 and 2012 Tour de France, and 2013 Giro d’Italia.
Bradley Wiggins at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine (Watson)
Sky and British Cycling would not tell the Daily Mail what was in the package.
Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford said in the Telegraph Cycling Podcast that he is now aware what was in the package.
“This whole things was brought to my attention recently,” said Brailsford. “I never saw a package. Obviously, now I can’t go back and know what was in the package. I know what I was told was in package.”
He would not say what was in the package. “I don’t think at this moment in time it helps to say ‘by the way, it was X'”.
Sutton worked alongside Brailsford for British Cycling on the track and on the road with Team Sky. When Brailsford left to devote his time to Sky, Sutton took over the track programme.
However, he stepped down after Jess Varnish made sexism claims this summer. On Friday, a British Cycling investigation ruled in her favour and ended any chance of Sutton’s return to his former position. He said that he will still work with Sky and that he is considering other offers.
Sutton revealed that he already spoke to the UKAD investigators. It is believed Wiggins has, as well.
“Yes, I have spoken to them. 100 per cent, I didn’t know what was in the package, and if I had, I would have been truthful and told them,” explained Sutton.
“The investigation will get to the bottom of it, and as I say, I think everyone will be exonerated and we will quickly move on.”
