Freeman v General Medical Council

Dr Freeman was formerly the team doctor for British Cycling and Team Sky. Dr Freeman was found to have ordered the banned substance Testogel in 2011 and subsequently to have lied about it to the UK Anti-Doping Authority. An important part of Dr Freeman’s defence was that he ordered it for Shane Sutton, head coach at British Cycling and Team Sky, to treat erectile dysfunction. Dr Freeman’s hearing before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal lasted a total of 72 days. The principal basis for the appeal was that the MPT had erred in finding Mr Sutton to be a credible witness despite the fact he had stormed out of the hearing during cross-examination and refused to return. The appeal was dismissed on all grounds by Fordham J after a two-day hearing in the Administrative Court in Manchester.