Dr Richard Freeman speaks out: 'I am not a doping doctor'
Freeman continues to protest his innocence despite being found guilty by the GMC of ordering testosterone "knowing or believing" it was to dope a rider

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Despite having been found guilty by the General Medical Council of ordering testosterone "knowing or believing" it was to dope a rider, Richard Freeman continues to protest his innocence, saying he is "not a doping doctor".
Speaking out for the first time since the tribunal's verdict on Friday (March 12), Freeman told the Daily Mail the rider he supposedly administered the testosterone to doesn't exist, but accepts that due to the lies he told during the tribunal that there are people who "can't trust anything I say".
"It's so disappointing," Freeman told the newspaper. "It's unbelievable. I have never doped a rider in my life. I'm still to see any evidence of who this rider supposedly was. I accept there are people who don't believe me. They will say I've lied and changed my story and can't trust anything I say. I've admitted to those lies."
This line is similar to the one put out by Team Ineos following the guilty verdict, the WorldTour team saying they did not believe there was any evidence of athletes using or seeking to use the 30 sachets of banned Testogel ordered to the Manchester HQ in 2011.
"And, yes, I deserved the GMC tribunal. But I can say with a clear conscience that I didn't order Testogel knowing or believing it was for cheating," Freeman continued, arguing against the guilty verdict.
"We [Team Sky and British Cycling] were more interested in spending money on ceramic bearings instead of a medical records system. I'm still shocked at this verdict. I've made plenty of mistakes but I'm not a doping doctor. The reputations of many good people are under a cloud and that's just not fair, not least on them."
A further verdict from the GMC is set for March 17 to decide whether Freeman will be struck off as a medical practitioner. Currently, he is working at an NHS practice just outside Blackburn helping to administer the Covid vaccine.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
'They aren't just good, they're brilliant' - Meet Great Britain's junior super-talents
There’s a golden generation of women coming through the GB ranks
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Primož Roglič confirms he will leave Jumbo-Visma
Giro d'Italia champion does not reveal his destination for 2024 yet, though
By Adam Becket Published
-
Joe Blackmore and Xan Crees win British Gravel Championships
Young duo topple favourites in Suffolk to claim national titles
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I thought I was more in the door than I was' - Luke Rowe bares all on Vuelta a España snub
Welshman will not race a Grand Tour this year after he missed out on selection by Ineos Grenadiers
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘I hope I get a cow’ - Josh Tarling aiming for the top prize at World Championships
Welshman competing in elite men’s individual time trial on Friday afternoon
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'All being well I’ll still be racing next year' but 'it's coming to an end' - Geraint Thomas on Ineos Grenadiers future
'It's nice to be arriving at a Worlds in decent nick' says the Welshman ahead of individual time trial in Stirling
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'We had to be clever' - Great Britain seal late silver in men’s Madison at World Championships
British duo Ollie Wood and Mark Stewart see patience rewarded in Glasgow, narrowly missing out on gold
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Track gold rush for Great Britain on day two of the World Championships
Hosts take four new para-cycling titles, while the USA also continue track success
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Carlos Rodriguez credits BMX skills with Tour de France stage win
Ineos Grenadiers rider dedicates his victory to his parents
By Vern Pitt Published
-
'We just have to keep trying': Ineos Grenadiers ready to attack at the Tour de France
'You never know' British team's DS Steve Cummings says anything is still possible at French Grand Tour
By Tom Thewlis Published