Richard Freeman appeal has been adjourned with no further hearing currently set
The former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor was banned from practicing after being found guilty of ordering banned substances
Richard Freeman's appeal hearing against the decision to permanently strike him off the medical register has been adjourned with no further hearing date currently set. The appeal hearing was originally set to begin this month.
Freeman was found guilty in March of this year of ordering a banned testosterone drug for an unknown rider while working as the doctor for Team Sky (now Ineos Grenadiers) and British Cycling.
An appeal was lodged to clear his name and to have him placed back onto the medical register in April 2021, with that appeal now adjourned.
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When a case is adjourned in court it means that the case still exists within the court but is no longer active.
Graham Small, partner at JMW Solicitors which is representing Freeman, said: "The written transcript of the disciplinary simply did not convey the overt hostility displayed towards our client. It’s unusual for a High Court Judge to adjourn an appeal, but in this case it’s necessary."
JMW Solicitors LLP made a request for an audio recording of the first disciplinary hearing to be heard by the judge just before the appeal happened but the General Medical Council objected to this application, thus delaying the process.
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The appeal meant that UK Anti-Doping's (UKAD) case against Freeman had to be paused and will continue after the appeal has been heard by the High Court.
Freeman had already admitted to 18 of the 22 charges that were against him, such as purchasing the banned Testogel as well as lying to the UKAD, with the case now dragging out for over two years since February of 2019.
It was deemed that Freeman had ordered the drug "knowing or believing" that it would be used by a rider who has remained un-named.
This saw UKAD provisionally suspend Freeman and charge him with two violations: 'Possession of Prohibited Substances and/or Prohibited Methods and Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of Doping Control'.
The date for when the appeal will be heard by the judge is currently not known.
Tim Bonville-Ginn is a freelance writer who has worked with Cycling Weekly since 2020 and has also written for many of the biggest publications in cycling media including Cyclingnews, Rouleur, Cyclist and Velo.