Sir Bradley Wiggins has released a statement to address the publication of his medical records following the hacking of a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) data account, with a spokesperson saying “there’s nothing new here.”
After it emerged that Wiggins was one of the Team GB cyclists whose data was hacked and published, along with former teammate Chris Froome, the use of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) for otherwise banned substances was again under scrutiny.
Since the records were released both Froome and Wiggins reiterated their position when it comes to riding clean.
The hacked medical records highlighted that neither of the two British Tour de France winners has done anything against anti-doping rules, which was backed-up by Wiggins’s spokesman.
“There’s nothing new here. Everyone knows Brad suffers from asthma, his medical treatment is British Cycling and International Cycling Union (UCI) approved and like all Team GB athletes he follows WADA regulations to the letter,” the spokesman said.
“The leak of these records is an attempt to undermine the credibility of WADA and that’s something for them to deal with.”
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Between June 2008 and April 2013, Wiggins received six different TUEs in total, for salbutamol (inhalation) and triamcinolone acetonide (intramuscular).
Team Sky, who Wiggins was riding for during the time of some of the TUEs, and who Froome continues to ride for, released a statement about the matter earlier on Thursday.
“The Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) process, as set out by UKAD, is ‘a means by which an athlete can obtain approval to use a prescribed prohibited substance or method for the treatment of a legitimate medical condition’.
“Applications made by Team Sky for TUEs have all been managed and recorded in line with the processes put in place by the governing bodies.
“Team Sky’s approach to anti-doping and our commitment to clean competition are well known.”
The leaked data was taken from an Anti-Doping Administrative Management System (ADAMS) account belonging to the International Olympic Committee and concerned athletes who had competed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has condemned the hacking of confidential medical information and is working with all affected athletes.
