This was probably inevitable.
Bradley Wiggins has been at the the centre of one hell of a storm over the past 10 days after leaked documents showed that he had applied for therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) shortly before his biggest races of the season in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
While there is no suggestion that Wiggins has broken any rules at any stage, there are certain elements of these leaks that have caused many to wonder if Team Sky’s commitment to full transparency is as strong as they claim.
Specifically, the timing of Wiggins’ TUE applications, the use of the drug triamcinolone which many cyclists claim has powerful performance enhancing qualities, the presence of the now banned doctor Geert Leinders with Team Sky at certain periods in this timeframe as well as Wiggins’ own pronouncement in his autobiography that he and British cycling operated a ‘no needle’ policy, have led to calls for Wiggins and Team Sky to explain themselves.
While Team Sky’s head honcho Sir Dave Brailsford has so far remained tight-lipped following these leaks, Wiggins released a statement last week in a bid to clarify his position.
On Sunday he appeared on BBC to be interviewed by Andrew Marr.
Wiggins claimed that the use of these drugs were not to gain an advantage but were merely used to level the playing field and help him overcome the difficulties caused by the chronic asthma he has suffered from since childhood.
While Marr isn’t quite Oprah Winfrey levels of saccharine PR interview, but many viewers at home were in no doubt that Marr had given Wiggins an easy ride.
We surely knew Wiggins' interview would be a soft-pedalling PR exercise. It might as well have been Johnny Marr asking the questions. #Marr
— Dave Yates (@thebedfordfox) September 25, 2016
That Wiggins/Marr interview was a load of BS. A nicely scripted PR exercise!
— Karl (@82karl) September 25, 2016
Ha ha. I've just watched Boris Johnson, Bradley Wiggins and Jeremy Corbin on the Andrew Marr show. BW looked the least trustworthy.
— Glen Cottingley (@GlenCottingley) September 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/ctulb/status/779975706835030016
Wiggins' interview with Andrew Marr- seemed very scripted, and more defensive than Wiggo has previously been. Doesn't look great
— Mark Ross, Ph.D (@DrMarkRoss) September 25, 2016
Clever PR. Wiggins talks to respected journalist #marr with no background knowledge of the subject & who is unable to question adequately.
— Liam Ruth (@liamruth) September 25, 2016
Even other journalists were having a pop…
Glad Andrew Marr wrapped things up in time to ask Bradley Wiggins about fashion and current affairs.
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) September 25, 2016
Expected much more from Andrew Marr. Disappointing. #Wiggins
— Jake Humphrey (@mrjakehumphrey) September 25, 2016
Not surprisingly, Andrew Marr's very superficial questioning of Bradley Wiggins on his show this morning clarified and resolved nothing.
— Richard Williams (@rwilliams1947) September 25, 2016
I don't believe a word of Sir Bradley's drug-taking defence. Looked very shifty & heavily scripted in that interview. #wiggins #marr
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 25, 2016
