Richard Freeman Suspended for Four Years Due to Doping Violations

The UK Anti-Doping Agency announced on Tuesday that Richard Freeman, former head doctor for the British Cycling Federation and Team Sky, has been suspended from all sports activities for four years, with the ban ending on December 21 of next year. The agency stated in a press release that the National Independent Anti-Doping Panel found Freeman committed violations of the rules regarding "possession of a prohibited substance" and "cheating" on two separate occasions. The suspension officially began on December 22, 2020, which marked the start of his temporary ban. Freeman, who was convicted of supplying an athlete with the banned substance testosterone in 2011, was permanently removed from his professional association after losing an appeal last January. The UK Anti-Doping Agency opened an investigation in 2016 after receiving information about a possible rules violation by individuals associated with Team Sky during the 2011 Dauphiné race. Freeman worked with the British Cycling Federation and Team Sky during their golden period from 2009 to 2017. Team Sky changed its name to Ineos in 2019.