Doctor at centre of Team Sky's 'jiffy bag' scandal breaks his silence

British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman has told MPs that the controversial jiffy bag delivered to him in France contained only a common decongestant fluimucil.

The treatment was hand-carried to Dr Freeman and then administered by him to Sir Bradley Wiggins.

UK anti-doping chiefs are currently investigating allegations that the bag actually contained triamcinolone - a steroid banned during competition, without an official medical exemption.

In a letter tackling a series of questions, Dr Freeman has admitted to failing to back up medical notes - a practice he says has been tightened up in the past five years.

That did not impress the forensically minded MP Damian Collins who said after reading Dr Freeman’s responses: “Once again, this new evidence leaves major questions outstanding for Team Sky and British Cycling.

"In particular, why were no back up medical records kept for Bradley Wiggins in 2011, beyond those on Dr Freeman's laptop computer?

"Why were there not more formal protocols enforced on recording keeping, and whose responsibility was it to make sure that Team Sky's own stated policies were being enforced?”

While Dr Freeman says he has only ever administered triamcinolone to one rider (Wiggins) he does not explain the large quantity of the corticosteroid stored at British Cycling's head quarters and there is still the mystery of testosterone patches delivered to the medical unit by mistake.

In his letter, Dr Freeman paints a picture of life on the road with British Cycling and Team Sky and explains how he has to discuss treatments with a rider’s coach - a relationship he admits sometimes causes friction.

“I have never encountered a winning at all costs attitude in these organisations.

"Indeed, both organisations have indeed allowed me to care for my patients protecting me from the performance demands that exist to win in elite sport.”

He added: “Elite sport is coach led and the involvement and integration of the medical and coaching teams is essential.

"That is not to say there aren’t tensions and conflict of opinions at times but I can state that in my opinion, athletes' health has never been compromised by forcing me to make a recommendation against my will and clinical judgment.”

That is at odds with what Wiggins' coach Shane Sutton originally told the same MPs.

He said at first he would not be privy to discussions that would mainly take place between a doctor and an athlete.

But he later admitted he did know about Wiggins' exemptions for triamcinolone.

Dr Freeman told MP’s he is happy to appear in front of them and answer their questions face-to-face when he is well enough.

It looks like Wiggins is gearing up to have his say too.

This weekend, appearing on a football magazine programme, he said he would have plenty to say once UK Anti-Doping investigation was complete, warning people would be “shocked” by what he plans to reveal.

For a sport that seems to be defending itself on a near constant basis at the moment, the last few days have done nothing to alleviate the pressure.