Team Sky's David Brailsford stood in front of British MP's on Monday afternoon to discuss the contents of the controversial package which was delivered to the team doctor in 2011.
Professional cycling has shrouded itself in controversy in the past two decades in particular. Doping scandal after doping scandal, the reputation of the sport has been tarnished. Each triumph met with a furrowed brow by spectators.
This afternoon, general manager of Team Sky, David Brailsford, stood before a Culture, Media and Sport committee as they questioned him over the contents of a package received by the cycling team while in France in 2011.
Brailsford was also quizzed about the therapeutic use exemption (TUE) granted to Bradley Wiggins for his asthma and allergies. The Olympic gold medalist was supplied with injections of the prohibited drug corticosteroid triamcinolone. Neither Bradley Wiggins nor Team Sky were in breach of any rules when applying for the exception.
The primary objective for MP's in British parliament was to expose what was in the aforementioned package. Team Sky were quizzed on numerous occasions before but failed to shed further light on the matter until today.
Dave Brailsford confirmed earlier comments by team assistant, Simon Cope, that the package ('jiffy bag') was delivered to team doctor, Richard Freeman, on the closing day of the Critérium du Dauphiné - an annual race in the southwest of France. Bradley Wiggins finished first.
However, Cope was adamant that he was unaware of the contents of the parcel which was delivered from Manchester to Geneva. Speaking earlier in the year, he said "I don't have a clue what was in there. It wasn't something unusual either." It didn't bode well for a team which prides itself on honesty and transparency.
Finally after a host of questions, Brailsford revealed the contents of the controversial 'jiffy bag' which they received on the date in question;
Doctor Freeman told me that it was Fluimucil that was in the package, a product that is for a nebuliser. That is what was in the package
Let’s just be clear, I wasn’t aware of the package at the time. When it was brought to my attention, it is my role to take those matters seriously to try and gather the facts and see if there was any need for a disciplinary procedure. My first course of action was to speak to all of the guys on the team.
Obviously we go to many races and people’s recollections of races can be vague. I spoke to everybody involved, I got witness statements, and then I couldn’t see that there was any anti-doping rule violation.
However, I also felt that it was probably appropriate to pass that on and have it viewed by an independent authority who could verify the fact
Fluimucil is used to treat 'airway disorders characterized by the increased mucus production'. Yet, it seems rather remarkable that Dr. Freeman and Team Sky would go such measures when the drug is readily available in France for approximately €10. The medication is also unlicenced in the United Kingdom which will raise further doubt about Brailsford's statement. All the while it suggested that asthma sufferers avoid Fluimucil as a precaution.
Not be used if you have asthma... pic.twitter.com/qGqfoNUhh1
— Matt Lawton (@Lawton_Times) December 19, 2016
John Nicholson says some evidence fluimucil not licensed in the UK - Brailsford looks surprised and says "we use it on a regular basis"
— Sean Ingle (@seaningle) December 19, 2016
It's unlikely this case is going to go away any time soon.
