Dr Richard Freeman’s fitness to practise impaired, says MPTS tribunal

Ex-British Cycling and Team Sky chief doctor Richard Freeman’s “fitness to practise is impaired by reason of his misconduct”, a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) has ruled.

The General Medical Council (GMC) recently found Freeman guilty of ordering banned testosterone in 2011.

It said he ordered it “knowing or believing” it was to help dope an unnamed rider.

Freeman had previously admitted 18 of 22 charges against him but denied the central charge about the purpose of the Testogel order.

He said he was “shocked” by GMC verdict and said the he “was not a doper”.

While the GMC investigates doctors and brings a case against them, MPTS tribunals make independent decisions about a doctor’s fitness to practise.

The MPTS conclusion read: “The Tribunal bore in mind that Dr Freeman’s misconduct involved a number of significant elements, including serious dishonesty, as well as behaviour which could have placed patients at unwarranted risk of harm.

“It concluded that public confidence in the profession would be undermined if a finding of impairment were not made.

“The Tribunal has therefore determined that Dr Freeman’s fitness to practise is impaired by reason of his misconduct.”