Bradley Wiggins' former doctor at Garmin Slipstream has told Cyclingnews that in his opinion, the story provided by Team Sky at the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in relation to the transport of Fluimucil for the rider's medical needs is 'insufficient', implausible and like something from the Lance Armstrong era.
Team Sky, British Cycling and Bradley Wiggins have all come under fire in recent months due to a medical package that was transported from British Cycling's offices in Manchester to Team Sky at the Critérium du Dauphiné in 2011. The episode is part of a UKAD investigation into potential wrongdoing and has led to members of the British Parliament quizzing British Cycling and Team Sky's Dave Brailsord over the matter.
On Monday, after months of silence, Brailsford told the parliamentary committee that the medical package contained Fluimucil, a legal mucolytic that can help break up mucus in the lungs. No evidence has yet been provided to back this claim up, although British Cycling have told the committee that the required documentation will be provided by the end of this week.
Prentice Steffen, who was Wiggins' team doctor during the 2009 season, when the British rider took fourth at the Tour de France, confirmed that Fluimucil is a standard drug that is made available within the peloton. However, he questioned the explanation offered by Brailsford, who stated that the package was transported from Manchester to the French Alps by Simon Cope, an employee of British Cycling. Shane Sutton, who resigned from British Cycling in the wake of an investigation into using sexist language – for which he was subsequently cleared – remains as a consultant at Team Sky, and told the committee that the medical package was used at the Dauphiné with the drug administered to Wiggins by Sky's team doctor, Richard Freeman.
"It just struck me as a bit of an odd hand to play and an insufficient explanation," Steffen told Cyclingnews.
"We pretty much keep Fluimucil on hand at all times because the guys ask for it. Certainly it's legal and it's probably effective in terms of its effect on clearing mucous and also providing an antioxidant effect. We can give it out pretty freely on cold or rainy days if riders feel like they are getting a cold."
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