Bradley Wiggins appears on BBC calling parliamentary report a ‘smear campaign’ and ‘witch hunt’
Wiggins affirms Team Sky never crossed an ethical line
The day after a British House of Commons’ Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee concluded that Bradley Wiggins and other riders on Team Sky used the corticosteroid triamcinolone for performance enhancement, the five-time Olympic gold medalist has denied an ethical line was crossed. Responding to the allegations for the first time, Wiggins sat down for an interview with Dan Roan of the BBC.
“Not at any time in my career did we cross the ethical line,” Wiggins affirmed in the interview which aired on Monday evening on BBC.”I refute that 100 per cent. This is malicious, this is someone trying to smear me.”
— Brad Wiggins (@SirWiggo) March 5, 2018
Wiggins repeated many of the talking points Dave Brailsford and Sky have used to respond to the claims in recent months asserting the prescription was required for medical purposes and that it’s intended purpose was not performance enhancing. Wiggins received therapeutic use exceptions for triamcinolone before the 2011 Tour de France, his 2012 Tour win and the 2013 Giro d’Italia. The report outlined the potential performance enhancement properties of the substance.
On the day the 43-page parliamentary report was released, Wiggins issued a statement on Twitter which read, “I find it so sad that accusations can be made, where people can be accused of things they have never done which are then regarded as facts.” He reiterated that point in the BBC interview suggesting that he is the subject of a “witch hunt”.
I find it so sad that accusations can be made, where people can be accused of things they have never done which are then regarded as facts. I strongly refute the claim that any drug was used without medical need. I hope to have my say in the next few days & put my side across.
— Brad Wiggins (@SirWiggo) March 5, 2018
During the interview, Wiggins also responded to a question regarding the jiffy bag which he allegedly received at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine. When asked what was in the bag he responded, “God knows. Your guess is as good as mine. I don’t run the team, I was busy doing my job that I was paid to do.”
Wiggins continued, “I didn’t even know there was a package until I was asked about it. It has become such a mess—it is ludicrous.”
Wiggins added that he has not had a chance to adequately respond to the allegations that have been made against him. “I would have had more rights if I had murdered someone than in this process.
“I don’t know what his [the source’s] motivation is. It was completely under medical need,” Wiggins said rueing the consequences of the allegations which he said were taking on toll on his and his children’s lives.
“I am having to deal with the fallout; I am left in the middle trying to pick up the pieces. It is a malicious allegation made by an anonymous source.”
Team Sky also issued a statement denying they had ever used prescriptions for performance enhancement and like Wiggins strongly refutes the report.
