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Sir Bradley Wiggins reveals new career goal – to become a doctor

Five-time Olympic champion also says Freeman case “baffling and complete incompetence at the highest f*cking level”

Sir Bradley Wiggins has revealed his new career goal – to qualify as a doctor, and says that he has already begun his studies by distance learning.

Speaking to The Times, the five-time Olympic champion and 2012 Tour de France winner said: “A lot of ex-athletes focus on what they won and it’s, ‘Do you know who I am and what I did?’

“But if you can reapply it to your life, it’s good grounding because it shows you can apply yourself to something else.

“My goal now in life is to be working in the clinical, medical field. I’d like to become a doctor and redefine myself.

“I haven’t ridden a bike for five years, so I’m not a cyclist,” he said – presumably a reference to racing, given his last race was the 2016 Tour of Britain, a month after he helped Team GB successfully defend the team pursuit Olympic title at Rio, with his Instagram feed showing he was still getting out and about on two wheels last year.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Sir Wiggo (@bradwiggins)

Regarding his medical ambitions, he said: “I’ve toyed around with it for years. I was going to try to work in the social work area a few years ago” – in fact, he was studying for an Open University degree in the subject less than two years ago, and said at the time, “I don’t give a shit about my cycling career now.”

> Sir Bradley Wiggins studying to become social worker

“I’ve been really fascinated by psychology, not sports psychology, but the human brain and I would like to work in that field.”

When Alyson Rudd, interviewing Wiggins, pointed out that he was looking at eight years or more of study, he said: Very much so, like cycling. It’s what I was saying about the application. Anything is possible. Just do it, as Nike say.”

Inevitably, the conversation turned to Richard Freeman, who as doctor to Team Sky and British Cycling worked closely with Wiggins and who was struck off the medical register in March after a tribunal ruled that he had ordered testosterone patches in 2011 “knowing or believing” that they would were intended to be used for an athlete to enhance their performance.

During the same period, Freeman was also the recipient of the infamous Jiffy Bag couriered to France on the final day of the 2011 Criterium du Dauphiné, which Wiggins won, with the package containing medicine for the rider – claimed to be the decongestant Fluimucil, which is not banned, although a UK Anti-doping probe was closed in 2017 with the agency unable to establish what the actual contents were.

> UKAD says Jiffy bag investigation was “hindered” and “potentially compromised” by British Cycling

That probe followed the revelation by Russian hackers following the Rio Olympics that on three occasions – prior to the Tour de France in 2011 and 2012, and the 2013 Giro d’Italia – Wiggins had been given therapeutic use exemptions for the banned drug, triamcinolone.

“What’s happened to Dr Freeman?” Wiggins asked. I seem to be the only person who has said anything about it. It’s the same old thing, we’re no further forward than we were two years ago. We don’t know anything more. The whole thing is bizarre. We’re ten years from the bloody incident.

“At some point you have to get on with your life, because it would have dragged me down. I’d like some more answers, but are we going to get them? We’d love to know who it [the testosterone patches] were for, but are we ever going to know?

“Four or five investigations have happened, and everyone seems none the wiser.

“The whole thing is baffling and complete incompetence at the highest f*cking level, I can’t get my head round it,” he added.

UKAD has in fact charged Freeman with possession of prohibited substances and/or prohibited methods, as well as tampering or attempted tampering with any part of doping control, and provisionally suspended him from all sport – although as we reported earlier this week, it has put proceedings on hold pending his appeal against the tribunal’s decision to have him struck off.

> UKAD suspends Richard Freeman doping case while appeal heard

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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10 comments

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mbprouser | 2 years ago
4 likes

I used to admire Sir Bradley for his performance. There's no doubt he's a superb athlete. As he said himself all he knows is how to ride a bike. That said now, now I'm really tired of him. He just say's and does things that scream 'please look at me!'. Didn't he at one point announce we was pursuing a career in councelling or something along those lines. 

As for his rowing, he had the engine and technique to become a seriously good oarsman. 

Avatar
Awavey replied to mbprouser | 2 years ago
4 likes

I do feel sorry him actually, and it's the same with Vicky Pendleton, both were exceptionally committed & focused athletes in their cycling disciplines to the extent it completely consumed their lives,it was bike, eat, bike, sleep, bike, repeat for years.

And the "medal factory" sort of chewed them up in the process to get those victories and yet just dumps them out the end when they leave the sport both never wanting to barely sit on a bicycle ever again, yet are left still with this incredible overriding urge to have a goal & target to focus on & still train for but with no idea really where to direct all that energy or what to do next with it and so seem to be constantly doing all this misguided stuff.

Its difficult to be a retired professional bike rider and find a way in life post career I think, especially when theres literally no support for it,if all you ever had was riding a bike,which you struggle to even remotely enjoy anymore.

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Pilot Pete replied to Awavey | 2 years ago
2 likes

I can't feel that sorry for him. A multi-millionaire, always trying to be controversial, who is a bit 'lost' as he hasn't got a goal to train for?

Meanwhile, in the real world most people struggle to make ends meet, don't have any kind of financial comfort blanket and work all the hours god sends in jobs they would probably, given a choice, rather not do.

He's actually in a very enviable position for most people. I suspect many, many ex pro riders aren't anywhere near as comfortably well off that they can walk from one idea to the next post riding career...

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Ihatecheese | 2 years ago
0 likes

Unrelated of course but If I had spent years self medicating  then in hindsight I'd absolutely want to know what I had or was putting in my body! Being a doctor means you can wear a cool uniform too. Just bang out a few OU courses first ! 

 

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Global Nomad | 2 years ago
2 likes

its his ethics i would be worried about

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Pilot Pete replied to Global Nomad | 2 years ago
0 likes

And his attitude....can't quite see him being a 'shoulder to cry on' with a wonderful bedside manner with those who are struggling mentally...

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Captain Badger replied to Pilot Pete | 2 years ago
0 likes
Pilot Pete wrote:

And his attitude....can't quite see him being a 'shoulder to cry on' with a wonderful bedside manner with those who are struggling mentally...

Although not ubiquitous, I've known a few doctors that would make him seem like Aunty Vi....

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Organon | 2 years ago
0 likes

Hope this goes better than the rowing.

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Captain Badger replied to Organon | 2 years ago
4 likes
Organon wrote:

Hope this goes better than the rowing.

Is that as in boats, or arguing? He seems to be pretty prolific on the latter...

Avatar
perfect1964 | 2 years ago
2 likes

He has a truly fine mind - he will excel at f**king medicine but only with the appropriate TUEs

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