British Cycling to face parliamentary hearing over use of TUEs

British Cycling's representative - expected to be president Bob Howden - will likely be asked about the UK Anti-Doping investigation into allegations of wrongdoing in cycling

British Cycling faces intense scrutiny over recent allegations of wrongdoing (Getty)

British Cycling will be asked to explain the use of therapeutic use exemptions at a parliamentary hearing which could address wider issues in the sport.

Damian Collins, chairman of the culture, media and sport select committee, says the hearing, as part of the inquiry into doping in sport, would focus on grounds for granting TUEs.

British Cycling's representative - expected to be president Bob Howden - will likely also be asked about the UK Anti-Doping investigation into allegations of wrongdoing in cycling.

Collins told Press Association: "Our initial enquiry is just to British Cycling to hear their views as the governing body.

"Our initial interest is in TUEs, the ethics of TUEs, the role of British Cycling as the governing body, their relationships with other people involved in that process.

"This is part of our inquiry into doping in sport and we could call other witnesses as well.

"We can request anyone to come to give evidence to us. We've not taken a view on calling individual athletes at this moment in time."

Asked specifically about the UKAD investigation, Collins added: "Any issue that is relevant to cycling is up for discussion."

UKAD has not disclosed the details of its investigation, but Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford has commented on the investigation focusing on the contents of a package delivered to the British road team at the June 2011 Criterium du Dauphine stage race, then Sir Bradley Wiggins' biggest win on the road.


 Great Britain's Sir Bradley Wiggins was recently revealed to have taken TUEs 
 (PA)

Team Sky deny wrongdoing and, like British Cycling, are cooperating with the UKAD investigation, which Wiggins has welcomed.

The use of TUEs is the subject of recent debate.

Data stolen by computer hackers after the Rio Olympics revealed Wiggins had received TUEs for triamcinolone - a substance which has a history of abuse in cycling and is otherwise banned - on the eve of the Tour de France in 2011 and the race in 2012, which he won, and the 2013 Giro d'Italia.

Wiggins and Brailsford, the British Cycling performance director until April 2014, have strenuously denied any wrongdoing, insisting each time the TUEs were medically necessary to deal with a pollen allergy that aggravates the cyclist's long-standing asthma condition.

Sir Dave Brailsford has denied any allegations of wrongdoing against Team Sky (Getty)

The TUEs also had the approval of the UCI, cycling's world governing body, and there is no suggestion that Wiggins, who left Team Sky in April 2015, or the team have broken any rules.

It’s understand that the proposed date for the hearing is December 19. Collins said the committee and British Cycling were in the process of finalising a date for the hearing and who will be appearing.

PA.