UK Anti-Doping criticised over handling of drugs claims

UK Anti-Doping was today criticised for failing to take sufficient action against Dr Mark Bonar after reports he had provided performance-enhancing substances to a host of British athletes.

An independent review headed by Andy Ward, a former assistant chief constable, questioned why UKAD had failed to do anything despite being alerted to possible misgivings about Dr Bonar on seven occasions. The issue was raised by former cyclist Dan Stevens, who later took the information to The Sunday Times after UKAD failed to take action.

Ward said: “The review concluded that as a minimum standard of investigation, a simple check with Dr Bonar’s governing body, the General Medical Council, should have been undertaken by UKAD to establish whether any other intelligence may exist to support or negate the allegations by the source.

“It is difficult to understand why no contact was made with the GMC when that course of action was suggested on at least seven occasions either by members of UKAD, the athlete or his legal representatives throughout 2014.”

Ward also stated “opportunities to gather intelligence, secure evidence and investigation Bonar have been missed”.

UKAD chair David Kenworthy admitted the body’s approach had “not been up to the usual high standards of our work”.

Meanwhile, a decision on Maria Sharapova’s appeal against her two-year doping ban has been postponed until September.

The ruling had been due to be announced by next Monday but the Court of Arbitration for Sport says all parties involved wanted more time to prepare their cases.