EMBATTLED Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford is scheduled to face a media interrogation in Majorca today.
After the politicians come the journalists. Brailsford was called before parliament at the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) select committee on December 19, with his appearance prompting further questions.
The evidence provided by Brailsford and other leading figures in British cycling was last Saturday described as “extraordinary” and “very disappointing” by UK Anti-Doping chairman David Kenworthy.
Now Brailsford will continue to fight for his own and his team’s reputation – and possibly future – under media scrutiny.
Questions about the UKAD investigation into a package delivered to Team Sky almost six years ago, revealed in the Daily Mail last October, and the British squad’s use of therapeutic use exemptions for Sir Bradley Wiggins are set to dominate. Team Sky have always denied “wrongdoing” and insist no anti-doping rule violation has taken place.
Damian Collins MP, the select committee chairman, says questions remain and witnesses may be recalled, along with new ones.
Further evidence is now likely to wait until the conclusion of the UKAD investigation.
UKAD usually only announces a conclusion to an investigation if an anti-doping rule violation has taken place. But Team Sky, British Cycling and Wiggins will want a public declaration if no wrongdoing is found.
Brailsford admitted considering his position before, after acknowledging mistakes in hiring Belgian doctor Geert Leinders in 2011 and 2012.
Team Sky say they had no concerns over Leinders’ work during his time with the squad, but the doctor has since been banned for life following revelations of doping at Dutch squad Rabobank.
Brailsford also restated Team Sky’s zero-tolerance policy to doping in 2012, leading to a number of departures.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here