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Shane Sutton says Sir Bradley Wiggins' use of TUEs was legitimate way of finding marginal gains

David Millar says Team Sky were ‘gaming the system’

Shane Sutton has described Sir Bradley Wiggins controversial use of therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) as a means of “finding the gains,” arguing that it was a legitimate ploy that the rules allowed.

Data published by the Fancy Bears hacking group after the Rio Olympics revealed that Wiggins was granted TUEs to take the drug triamcinolone ahead of three key races – the 2011 and 2012 editions of the Tour de France and the 2013 Giro d’Italia.

Each was granted around a week before the race in question in accordance with the rules and authorised by the UCI.

Wiggins was administered the drug for allergies, but a number of professional riders have admitted using it performance enhancement. New UCI president David Lappartient has said he wants to introduce a full ban on such corticosteroids from 2019.

Sutton is now head coach of China's track team, having left British Cycling in April 2016 following allegations of discrimination and bullying.

Speaking to the BBC for an upcoming documentary, he explained the circumstances under which an application would be made for a TUE.

"If you've got an athlete that's 95% ready, and that little 5% injury or niggle that's troubling, if you can get that TUE to get them to 100%, yeah of course you would in those days," he said.

"The business you're in is to give you the edge on your opponent… and ultimately at the end of the day it's about killing them off. But definitely don't cross the line and that's something we've never done."

Asked whether "finding the gains might mean getting a TUE," he replied: "Finding the gains might be getting a TUE? Yes, because the rules allow you to do that."

Gaming the system

Commentator and former pro David Millar – whose sister Fran is Team Sky’s Director of Business Operations – said the team exploited the rules.

"Do I think they were gaming the system? Yeah, I think that's quite obvious, I think we all know that.

"It's incredibly disappointing. Team Sky was zero-tolerance, so you'd think that would mean you wouldn't tread into that very grey area of corticosteroid use, because it is performance-enhancing. So when I heard that it was like, 'seriously?'

"A little bit of me died to be honest with you. I thought you guys were different."

Disgraced Team Sky doctor asked to leave Track World Cup in Manchester

Sir Dave Brailsford said his team played by the rules.

“If an athlete is hampered by an illness and there is a medication they can have and the TUE criteria are met, then they should [have it]. If Wada and the UCI signed this off and it was all absolutely clear and above board then I was comfortable with that.”

More criticism of Sutton’s management style

Sutton resigned from his position as British Cycling’s technical director in April 2016 following accusations of bullying and discrimination. The documentary also sees Dr Steve Peters, the psychiatrist who was with British Cycling until April 2014, reveal that he had expressed concerns about Sutton’s behaviour to Brailsford in 2012.

Peters clearly felt Sutton needed reining in as ‘sometimes his passion overran’.

"Shane would start to sort of cajole the athletes and they would feel that they were being intimidated or bullied – some of them, not all. Some of them welcomed it and said, 'no, this really gets me back in line again'.

"I don't think there was any malice there, I don't think he meant anything wrong, but I got to the point after London – we waited until after the Olympics – that I went to Dave and said: 'It can't continue.'

"I think Shane's very passionate and he contributed significantly to the success of the team but if something wasn't going right, Shane took it on his shoulders. That if this team didn't succeed in London, for example, then it was his fault, and that meant terrible pressure on him.

"And Shane himself would admit that sometimes his passion overran and then it might turn into what most people would see as hostility or aggression."

Ukad confirms Team Sky and British Cycling will not face charges over Jiffy bag delivered to Sir Bradley Wiggins at 2011 Criterium du Dauphine

An internal British Cycling report carried out by Peter King in 2012 made explicit reference to “a culture of fear and bullying” and an “autocratic leadership style.”

The full details were never passed on to UK Sport and Sutton was subsequently promoted to technical director of British Cycling in April 2014.

Sutton denies that riders feared him.

"You can rule out the whole 'fear'. I love that word 'fear' – you're looking at a bloke here, 60 years of age, 65 kilos, and people fear you? You got to be kidding me, come on. No, fear doesn't come into it at all. Dave just set the bar high."

He also denied that he had told Jess Varnish to ‘go and have a baby’.

"There's been a lot made of that. I actually laugh about it when I think about it. Did I ask her to lose some timber? If that's what you want to ask next? Yes, for sure. I was hurt by what was said – I'd have walked across hot coals for those riders, I'd do anything for them."

For his part, Brailsford believes that British Cycling is now “too soft.”

"Life's not about being soft,” he said. “Life's tough. That's the reality of life and I want us to win. I want us to be proud of our nation – a nation of winners and I want to be part of that. I don't want to be a nation of losers."

Britain's Cycling Superheroes: The Price of Success will be shown on BBC Two at 9pm on Sunday.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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32 comments

Avatar
philtregear | 6 years ago
1 like

 

 

Whilst it is probably true that you cant win in cycling without cheating, that does not make it OK to cheat. Listening to BW explain that the difference between him and Millar was that BW took the drugs therapuetically made me wince.  Of course they had the same performance enhancing effects whatever the  claimed reason for taking them.

 

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joeegg | 6 years ago
0 likes

   I thought the programme was a bit of a non event. One or two riders didn't like the attitude of the coach. They were the only ones interviewed which seemed pretty biased.

 At least Sutton was honest in saying that you'd use a TUE to gain an advantage. But we knew that already didn't we !

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maviczap | 6 years ago
1 like

Strange how that the BBC programme didn't include any interviews from riders with a positive view. Oh hold on its the BBC, very unbalanced and one sided.

Ok I don't think things were perfect, but no interviews with Hoy, Kenny, or any of the Sky riders?

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Cupov | 6 years ago
2 likes

Is that publicity shot supposed to show his warmer side? Think it's time for a new one.

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DaveE128 | 6 years ago
3 likes

I thought Brailsford was always quite open about doing anything and everything to win so long as it is within the rules . Not sure why people are so surprised. I don't think putting success before health is right but really a system that encourages teams to do this while following the rules clearly has bad rules and needs fixing. I see the UCI doctors signing off these TUIs as just as culpable as anyone else.

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peted76 replied to DaveE128 | 6 years ago
1 like

DaveE128 wrote:

I thought Brailsford was always quite open about doing anything and everything to win so long as it is within the rules . Not sure why people are so surprised. I don't think putting success before health is right but really a system that encourages teams to do this while following the rules clearly has bad rules and needs fixing. I see the UCI doctors signing off these TUIs as just as culpable as anyone else.

+1 for this. 

I thought the programme explained the timelines and what happened when 'quite' well,  it was, I feel 60/40 against. It was good to hear the BC psychologist Steve Peters say that Sutton's style 'worked' for some and not others.. at least there was credit given to him before stating that he was concerned about his behaviour to have a formal word with BC which lead to the first swept under the carpet investigation.. everyone agreed DB and SS were driven. Everyone also seemed to agree that the heads of BC are to blame 1) for hiding the results of the first investigation into culture at BC 2) for putting SS in charge.

Shane Sutton on Varnish - she wasn't improving and she wasn't going to win medals ,the coaches were all agreed.

David Millar can just piss off, why on earth did we have more Millar than Pooley on that programme if it wasn't simply for sensationalism? 

Pooley was very 'moderated' I felt, I thought she could have opened up more. 

It was also interesting to hear William Fotherington state that he thinks Wiggins is clean as he thinks is sky. 

The MP's just looked like they were jumping on a bandwagon, I'm glad that there are people who can demand to ask these and other questions, but this bunch just came across looking toothless and unqualified.

I think we should all agree to accept that in exceptional circumstace, exceptional people are rarley exceptionally well balanced. We've a new breed of people in charge now, hopefully they'll bring out the best in our cyclsits and we can continue winning medals. 

 

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Flying Scot | 6 years ago
2 likes

Sutton is a thin skinned wee man with a chip on his shoulder, he will say anything to be controversial.

I dont doubt this is true, but no one speaks of it, he is only speaking out because his failure to control one side of his personality lead to his demise.

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Velovoyeur | 6 years ago
1 like

If you have a doctor who is expert on the side effects of commonly prescribed medicines, a lawyer who has scrutinised the rules and the procedures, a manager who ruthlessly seeks victory and an athlete who has been convinced that it is within the rules to "level the playing field", you get Team Sky. If that doctor is then conveniently (or intentionally) incompetent in his record keeping you lessen the chance of getting found out about the true usage of the medicine. Those at Sky are content and sure that there has been no cheating. Their actions don't breach any rules. Is it morally correct? To most honest people, I doubt it. To people who want to win and not be accused of breaking the rules - you decide. The whole clean facade was just that , a front;  we don't use performance enhancing drugs but if there is a convenient side effect to a prescription drug we will use that following the guidelines. 

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Yorkshire wallet | 6 years ago
2 likes

I think Millar falls into the 'caught cheating and never cheats again because they know that's the end of their career if caught again' category. 

Became an angel as otherwise he'd burn in hell. 

As for the EPO and whatever has come before, don't think of athletes as people just machines. They probably think that way, 5 years off your life for glory. I bet most would take it, they're already living something a lot different to what we do for life. 

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
3 likes

You're assuming that someone lied and a doctor went against their oath, I assume you have proof?

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Velovoyeur | 6 years ago
3 likes

Marginal gains goes everywhere. Into the kit, rider preparation and the rule book. You can be certain the Sky have not broken any rules, their lawyers and physicians are certain of that. Are they morally correct? Doesn't matter, they've not committed any transgressions so it's OK (according to them) Have they played within the rules? Yes. Did the rules permit that opportunity? Yes. 

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Jackson replied to Velovoyeur | 6 years ago
2 likes

Velovoyeur wrote:

Marginal gains goes everywhere. Into the kit, rider preparation and the rule book. You can be certain the Sky have not broken any rules, their lawyers and physicians are certain of that. Are they morally correct? Doesn't matter, they've not committed any transgressions so it's OK (according to them) Have they played within the rules? Yes. Did the rules permit that opportunity? Yes. 

No. There is no rule that says you can pretend to need triamcinolone injections. You have to find a doctor willing to lie to get a TUE for it.

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dafyddp | 6 years ago
3 likes

On the one hand, bitterly dissapointing that Sky was never the clean the team many of us hoped for (and British to boot). On the other hand, there's a certain relief and restoration to the world's natural sense of order when we  hear the Dark Star was a relevant comparison after all and Rupert Murdoch is indeed Emperor Palaptine 

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joshpedal | 6 years ago
5 likes

Cheating bunch of bastards!

At leat the likes of Pantani did it with panache rather than the boring Sky tactics. 

Nothing to admire about the Brailsford ‘Death Star’

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Paul_C | 6 years ago
6 likes

amazing how many riders are 'asthmatic'....

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bobbinogs replied to Paul_C | 6 years ago
3 likes
Paul_C wrote:

amazing how many riders are 'asthmatic'....

...and tennis players and rugby players and...

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don simon fbpe replied to Paul_C | 6 years ago
3 likes

Paul_C wrote:

amazing how many riders are 'asthmatic'....

Isn't it called exercise or sports induced asthma, or soething like that? Much like athletes get more muscle strains than couch potatoes.

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fenix replied to Paul_C | 6 years ago
3 likes
Paul_C wrote:

amazing how many riders are 'asthmatic'....

All that training in all sorts of conditions. They're stressing their bodies far beyond the norm. It's not that surprising for cyclists at least.

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jacknorell replied to Paul_C | 6 years ago
1 like
Paul_C wrote:

amazing how many riders are 'asthmatic'....

I found out about my issues during a max effort interval session. Very common. Asthma is prevalent in a much larger proportion than those currently diagnosed, but rarely symptomatic in couch potatoes

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Chrisbpr | 6 years ago
3 likes

Dear David

Fuck.off.

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SNS1938 | 6 years ago
8 likes

SKY...we’re 100% clean ... hmmm, well, we are not technically breaking the rules, and we don’t keep records, so that makes us innocent 

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
1 like

Bob, why are people who have acted as far as anyone can ascertain within the rules labelled as "disgraced" yet an athlete that blatantly cheated (regardless of remorse shown) seen as a guiding light?

Is it wrong to suggest this is hypocrisy?!

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don simon fbpe replied to alansmurphy | 6 years ago
6 likes

alansmurphy wrote:

Bob, why are people who have acted as far as anyone can ascertain within the rules labelled as "disgraced" yet an athlete that blatantly cheated (regardless of remorse shown) seen as a guiding light? Is it wrong to suggest this is hypocrisy?!

I think it might be.

If a rider cheats, admits their guilt, cleans themselves up and then becomes a greater authority than most on the subject, I think they've done alright. After all, isn't our prison system all about rehabilitation and not just punishment?

If a person acts within the rules, but cannot demonstrate it fully as they can't remember, or have lost something, or it wasn't them, that their actions are fully lawful. That is, their guilt is not proven. I would say that they have a huge shadow cast over them and no hypocrisy.

Innocent is innocent uintil proven guilt. Lack of proof is not lack of guilt.

Ask Lance if you have any doubts.

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Goldfever4 | 6 years ago
1 like

Getting bored of Shane now. Made into a scapegoat and now bitter about it.

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Paul J replied to Goldfever4 | 6 years ago
1 like
Goldfever4 wrote:

Getting bored of Shane now. Made into a scapegoat and now bitter about it.

He's still on a retainer with Team Sky as a "consultant". Presumably to keep him sweet and stop him talking. Though, seems that's difficult for him....

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alotronic | 6 years ago
5 likes

I don't think Hitler was a big man either... what a bunch of bollocks Sutton comes out with...  

EPO wasn't illegal so therefore it was Ok to use up to the point is was illegal? That's the logical end point of Suttons argument. The reason this is so shit coming from Sky is that we thought they were about promoting the rider's health as number one priority not 'maximising to the limit of the rules'. Maximising to the limit of the rules is what tax professionals so for Amazon, Apple and, I suspect, Sky itself. There is a moral point here which Millar is making; he of all people should know the difference between maximising health and maximising performance and he's called it here - good job.

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Bob F | 6 years ago
9 likes

Disingenuous comments above: Don't let your passion blind you. I think you chaps are more aware of Millar's history, humility and subsequent consistent stance than you're pretending.

If not, then properly  do some homework and stop bothering the rest of us with the schoolboy prattle.

And if you still can't join the dots; go along and have a baby. Sorry Shane.

 

 

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MattieKempy replied to Bob F | 6 years ago
2 likes

Bob F wrote:

Disingenuous comments above: Don't let your passion blind you. I think you chaps are more aware of Millar's history, humility and subsequent consistent stance than you're pretending.

Humility and subsequent consistent stance maybe, but it's a bit rich of him to pass comment and I don't like Millar's trading on his doping and subsequent humility in his Chapter 3 (or however it's written) clothing line. Just my opinion...

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MattieKempy | 6 years ago
2 likes

Presumably then bullying,  sexism and prejudice were also Sutton's way of accruing marginal gains...

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MattieKempy | 6 years ago
0 likes

Ha ha haDavid Millar ha ha ha

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