Sir Dave Brailsford concedes Team Sky anti-doping mistakes but refutes 'untrue' allegations
By Andy Charles
Last Updated: 08/03/17 8:36am
Sir Dave Brailsford has admitted Team Sky made mistakes in relation to anti-doping and testing practices but refuted "untrue" implications made because of them.
Brailsford wrote to Damian Collins MP, chairman of the Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee, on Tuesday and published a comprehensive document concerning issues surrounding the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine.
The Committee was told last week by UK Anti-Doping chief executive Nicole Sapstead that their investigation into Team Sky had been hampered by a lack of records.
They are investigating allegations that a package sent to the team, and used to treat Sir Bradley Wiggins, contained the banned substance triamcinolone, although the team insists it contained decongestant Fluimucil, which is not a prohibited substance.
Brailsford wrote: "Self-evidently, the events of recent months have highlighted areas where mistakes were made by Team Sky.
"Some members of staff did not comply fully with the policies and procedures that existed at that time. Regrettably those mistakes mean we have not been able to provide the complete set of records that we should have around the specific race relevant to UKAD's investigation. We accept full responsibility for this.
"However many of the subsequent assumptions and assertions about the way Team Sky operates have been inaccurate or extended to implications that are simply untrue.
"There is a fundamental difference between process failures and wrongdoing. Our commitment to anti-doping has been a core principle of Team Sky since its inception. Our mission is to race and win clean, and we have done so for eight years.
"UKAD's investigation was precipitated by a very serious allegation of an anti-doping rule violation by Team Sky at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine. It is important to reiterate that, to my understanding, UKAD's investigation has found nothing whatsoever to support this allegation, which we believe to be false.
"While I obviously respect the fact that people will have their own view on issues related to this investigation, I do believe some of the comments made about Team Sky have been unreasonable and incorrect."
