Ex-British coach Sutton threatens to bring WIFE to tribunal in Freeman case to disprove claims of erectile dysfunction
FORMER British cycling coach Shane Sutton threatened to bring his WIFE into a medical tribunal to disprove claims he needed help to deal with erectile dysfunction.
In a series of astonishing scenes in Manchester, Aussie Sutton also stormed out of the hearing after being accused of being a serial liar.
Sutton was giving evidence at the hearing which could end the career of one-time British Cycling and Team Sky medical chief Dr Richard Freeman.
But the afternoon turned into a “trial” of Sutton, who was claimed to have bullied Freeman into ordering 30 satchels of testosterone.
An investigation which began with the “jiffygate” scandal at the top of British cycling descended into “Stiffygate” as Sutton hit back at the claims from Freeman’s barrister, Mary O’Rourke QC.
Freeman, who had initially denied any knowledge of the testosterone, has now admitted ordering the drug but claimed it was for Sutton’s personal use to combat his erectile issues.
That idea was angrily dismissed as Sutton turned on O’Rourke and blasted: “You are telling the press I can’t get a hard on.
“My wife wants to testify that you are a bloody liar.”
At the height of the furious exchanges, Sutton, who slammed his fist down on the table in front of him at one point, claimed he was being “dragged into a s***-fight”.
Sutton said it was O’Rourke, not him, who was the “bully” and was “accusing me of all kinds of things”.
O’Rourke told the hearing that Sutton was “a habitual and serial liar, a doper with a doping history”.
In turn, Sutton accused Freeman of being “a spineless individual” and maintained he had no knowledge of the delivery, suggesting he was willing “to swear on my three-year-old daughter’s life” he was telling the truth.
Former sprint cyclist Sutton added: "My career spanned 100 tests. Every one was negative. You have called me a serial liar but I am prepared to take a lie detector test.
“I thought [Freeman] was a bloody good doctor and a friend. But he isn't prepared to look his friend in the eye.”
At the start of the hearing, in which the General Medical Council has laid 22 charges against Freeman - 18 of which have now been accepted - the former Team Sky medic admitted he had “told a lot of lies” in the past.
The GMC claim Freeman ordered the drug for an unnamed rider to take but the doctor insisted it was a personal demand by Sutton which he was forced to follow against his will.
Freeman was implicated in the initial “Jiffygate” probe which followed the delivery of a package to Bradley Wiggins during a race in France in 2011.
After a 14-month inquiry by UK anti-doping, which saw Freeman claiming his computer containing all the relevant medical information had been stolen when he was on holiday, the case was ended.
But Sutton’s sheer indignation over the claims about his physical sexual capabilities mean Stiffygate will not disappear.
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After his abrupt departure from the witness stand, Sutton stopped on the steps outside the inquiry to suggest he would discuss with him family whether to return to give more evidence.
He added: “I’m pretty disappointed at the way I’ve been singled out. I feel like I’m the one on trial.
“What I can say is that I know full well that I never made that order.”