A Parliamentary report published on Monday claims Wiggins and Team Sky had crossed “ethical lines” by using permitted drugs to enhance performance rather than medical purposes in the build-up to his historic Tour de France victory in 2012.
But when asked to reveal the contents of the ‘Jiffy bag’ of drugs delivered from the UK and administered to him in France that is at the centre of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) report, Wiggins could only answer: “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 was granted Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUEs) to take the powerful corticosteroid triamcinolone, used to treat allergies and respiratory issues, shortly before the 2011 Tour de France, his 2012 Tour win and the 2013 Giro d’Italia.
The DCMS report said it had received “confidential material from a well-placed and respected source” about Team Sky’s medical policy between 2011 and 2013 that states Wiggins and a smaller group of riders trained separately from the rest of the team in preparation for the 2012 season. It concluded an ethical line had been crossed.
But in an interview with the BBC last night, Wiggins stated: “I refute that 100 per cent. This is malicious, this is someone trying to smear me.
“The widespread effect it has had on the family is just horrific, I am having to pick up the pieces with the kids, I would not wish it on anyone.”
Team Sky said it “strongly refutes” the report’s “serious claim that medication has been used by the team to enhance performance”.
Wiggins added: “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.
“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.
“Who are these sources? Come out. Go on record. This is serious stuff. I have worked and had the passion I have had for 15 or 20 years and to do that to the sport it is the worst thing to be accused of.”