Amateur cyclist reported to be whistleblower in "doping doctor" probe

The whistleblower behind a Sunday Times investigation into doping centred on a London-based doctor who allegedly supplied banned drugs to athletes is believed to be amateur cyclist Dan Stevens, who was handed a 21-month ban after failing to provide a urine sample in January 2014.

> British cyclist Dan Stevens to serve 21 month doping ban

The 39-year-old’s suspension was reduced from the usual two-year ban that applied then due to his provision of “valuable anti-doping information” to the UCI’s Cycling Independent Reform Commission, according to a UK Anti-doping (Ukad) statement at the time, reports Telegraph.co.uk.

His ban expired on 1 November 2015 but when contacted by the Telegraph yesterday evening, he said: “I'm sorry, I can't talk about this."

The Sunday Times claimed yesterday that Dr Mark Bonar had supplied banned performance enhancing drugs to athletes including Premier League footballers and British Tour de France cyclists.

> Doctor reportedly helped British Tour de France cyclists dope

Ukad said that it lacked jurisdiction to investigate Dr Bonar since he did not come under the umbrella of any sporting organisation, leading the whistleblower to contact The Sunday Times.

The newspaper secretly filmed conversations between the physician and an athlete it sent to him, as well as undercover reporters.

The government has said it has launched an investigation into Ukad’s handling of the case, including why it did not refer the allegations to the General Medical Council (GMC) and there have also been calls for the agency’s director, Nicole Sapstead, to resign.

The Omnyia clinic in Knightsbridge, south west London, where Dr Bonar has rented consulting rooms for the past 18 months terminated its professional services agreement with him on Friday.

In a statement, it said it had done so “upon learning from the Sunday Times that the GMC had revoked Dr Bonar’s licence to practice medicine in the UK.”

It also said: “We can find absolutely no trace of a single high profile sportsman or woman who has been treated or been seen at the clinic by Dr Bonar.”

Dr Bonar denied the allegations on Twitter yesterday, saying they “are false and very misleading. I have never had a relationship with any premier football club or player.”

He added: “I have never prescribed Androgen therapy for the purpose of performance enhancement. I treat symptomatic men with low Test levels.”

Regarding the revocation of his licence, he tweeted this afternoon: “My licence was temporarily revoked on Mar 23rd due to a revalidation issue which I am currently resolving. I have not practiced since then.”