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Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford acknowledges "mistakes"

Dave Brailsford has acknowledged mistakes in the handling of Team Sky's anti-doping and medical p...



Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford...
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Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford acknowledges "mistakes"

Dave Brailsford has acknowledged mistakes in the handling of Team Sky's anti-doping and medical practices.

But he also pointed out that "there is a fundamental difference between process failures and wrongdoing".

Brailsford made his comments in a letter to the chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, Damian Collins.

In the letter, Brailsford reiterated his belief that the team was not guilty of breaching anti-doping rules.

The team has been embroiled in controversy over a "mystery" package delivered to then Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine - a Tour de France warm-up race won by Bradley Wiggins.

There has also been controversy over three therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) granted to Sir Bradley in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

It comes days after UK Anti-Doping's boss Nicole Sapstead claimed British Cycling and Freeman failed to follow guidelines on keeping and sharing treatment records for star rider Wiggins.

Following a five-month investigation, UKAP chief Ms Sapstead also said governing body British Cycling had no idea if drugs in its medical store were intended for its riders or Team Sky's.

She said UKAD had not been able to establish what was in a jiffy bag hand-delivered to Freeman by a British Cycling coach at the end of the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine, a Tour de France warm-up race.

She said no records existed to confirm if the package contained the legal but unlicensed decongestant Fluimucil or the banned and potent corticosteroid Kenalog.

And she said because of this, UKAD was still unsure if Freeman and Wiggins broke anti-doping rules - an allegation both deny. 

Graham McWilliam, the chairman of the Team Sky board, said on Twitter that the board remained "100% behind team and Sir Dave Brailsford" following suggestions that some riders might want the team principal to resign.

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