Former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman has failed to appear on the first day of his medical tribunal to investigate allegations that he ordered testosterone to enhance the performance of an athlete, with the start now adjourned until Friday.
Freeman was set to appear in front of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester on Wednesday morning to begin a month-long tribunal into allegations of doping athletes, attempting to conceal motive, lying and poor record keeping.
But instead of proceedings beginning this morning, Freeman's lawyer Mary O'Rourke QC made an application for a 48-hour adjournment. O'Rourke called for a private session immediately after proceedings started to call for the adjournment.
The investigation is open to the public, including the media, but can be made private if it is decided that certain issues relate to personal health or exceptional circumstances.
The three tribunal members accepted this application and have now postponed the beginning of the tribunal until 9:30 am on Friday morning.
Adjournments can only be granted on the basis of health grounds or exceptional circumstances. It is believed Freeman has cited medical grounds for this request although has not been confirmed.
Freeman's tribunal will investigate allegations that the doctor ordered 30 sachets of Testogel to the National Cycling Centre in 2011 and then attempted to conceal motive by claiming the delivery of testosterone from Fit4Sport Limited was an error.
It is also alleged that Freeman 'inappropriately provided medical treatment that did not constitute first aid to non–athlete members of staff' and 'failed to maintain an adequate record management system'.