Murdoch, Viagra, and Mental Health: A Stunning Testimony from Richard Freeman
Former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor Dr Richard Freeman had his much-anticipated hearing in front of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester today. Here are some highlights.
“I have regrets”
When asked whether he covered up ordering Testogel, Freeman answered with a single word: “Yes.”
He was then asked whether he knew the difference between right and wrong when he ordered banned Testogel as a Team Sky and British Cycling doctor. “Yes. I knew I was not telling the truth. Being honest is one of my core values […] Things just snowballed. I have regrets.”
“When I gave that interview to UKAD I was in a terrible place. I was off sick from British Cycling. I hadn’t being used to so many stories breaking. Everyone seem to retract from me.
“My mental health was deteriorating”
Lying about buying Testogel caused mental health issues for Dr Richard Freeman: “I was on my own, isolated. My mental health was deteriorating. I was drinking again. I was taking more medication. I was on a slippery slope. I broke down in tears and couldn’t go on.”
Meetings with Murdoch
Freeman says he was summoned to meet with James Murdoch and many other senior Team Sky officials when he was due to give evidence to DCMS. They wanted to hear how he’d answer specific questions related to the case.
“I was in a room with as many people as this, Mike Morgan, a big person in sports law, was there and Rupert Murdoch’s lawyer from Australia. It was very pressurised. They wanted to know how I would answer certain questions.”
Destroying the evidence
Another bombshell came when Dr Freeman admitted destroying a laptop that had medical data on it “using a screwdriver or blunt instrument.” This was the second missing laptop containing data pertinent to the case.
“I had seen a program about how people in India can access data on laptops. I decided I could not let it happen so I decided to destroy it.” Well. That’s not convincing.
When questioned why he didn’t check it was backed up, Freeman answered that he believed British Cycling would have their own copies, but that he hadn’t clarified whether that was the case.
Confusion around Shane Sutton’s Testogel
Freeman could not verify that he’d received consent from Shane Sutton. “I did write to Shane Sutton, I believe, but I have no records of that. I do believe I saw him. It was a very difficult time for me.” His earlier statement claims that he wanted to tell the truth but had a ‘fear of violence’.
Jackson: “You obtained a drug because you were bullied into getting it, is that you are saying?”
“I got a drug because I was practising poor medicine… and I regret that.”
Freeman also claimed that he was one of the forerunners of introducing Viagra into clinical practice to treat erectile dysfunction. “Apart from my error with Mr Sutton I never proscribed testosterone.”
Erectile dysfunction
And so to the not-so-common erectile dysfunction excuse. Freeman claims Sutton’s erectile dysfunction was psychological, despite not having a medical consultation with Sutton before obtaining Testogel for his use.
“A lot of consultations were done on the road. I am not trying to defend my poor practise but that is how it was. I didn’t examine his testicles, I didn’t take his blood pressure, I didn’t take a medical assessment.”
Simon Jackson questioned whether Freeman abandoned his medical training because he was afraid of Sutton. Freeman replied, “Yes.”
More to come
That was a big day with some terrible fun revelations. More to come tomorrow!