Richard Freeman guilty: ‘seismic’ verdict will send ‘shockwaves’ through British sport

1. Doctor found guilty of ordering banned testosterone

Cycling

Richard Freeman, the former chief doctor of British Cycling and Team Sky, has been found guilty of ordering banned testosterone in 2011. A medical tribunal ruled that Freeman ordered Testogel “knowing or believing it was to be administered to an athlete to improve their athletic performance”.

The verdict announced by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) in Manchester has been described as “seismic” by The Guardian. It will “send shockwaves through British sport” and “raise questions about the decade-long success of British Cycling and Team Sky”.

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MPTS chair Neil Dalton said Freeman “placed the order and obtained the Testogel” with the motive to “conceal a conduct”.

Freeman has previously admitted 18 of 22 charges but denied the central charge regarding its purpose.

2. Wilder to leave Sheffield United

Football

It’s being widely reported that Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder will leave his position today. In his five years in charge at Bramall Lane Wilder has taken the Blades from League One to the Premier League, but in their second season back in the top flight they are rooted to the bottom of the table with just 14 points from 28 games.

There have been “major issues behind the scenes” between Wilder and club owner Prince Abdullah, says the BBC’s Simon Stone. And according to reports “there have been clashes over plans to appoint a director of football”, Sky Sports adds.

3. FA apologise for timing of Olympic squad calls

Football

The Football Association (FA) has issued a “grovelling apology” after telling players they were not going to the Olympics shortly before a Women’s Super League match last night.

Birmingham City goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was left “in floods of tears” after she was informed of her omission from the Team GB Olympic shortlist just before kick-off for the game against Everton, The Telegraph reports.

Birmingham lost 4-0 and manager Carla Ward said the timing of the call was “thoughtless”. “We had a kid in floods of tears, and you can see that it’s clearly affected her,” she said.

4. Whyte: Lewis is the best British heavyweight ever

Boxing

In the boxing world there’s a big debate over whether Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury is the best British heavyweight fighter. But when it comes to all-time greatness there should only be one choice, according to Dillian Whyte.

When asked by Sky Sports who is the greatest British heavyweight ever, Whyte said: “Lennox Lewis. Just the people he fought, the people he beat, and the fashion he beat them. He came back from his two defeats and won both the rematches, and how long he reigned. There was a period in time when no one could touch him.”

British fighter Whyte has teamed up with Lewis’s former coach Harold “The Shadow” Knight ahead of his rematch against Alexander Povetkin in Gibraltar on 27 March.

5. Federer withdraws from Dubai event after Qatar exit

Tennis

After losing to Nikoloz Basilashvili in the quarter-final of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Roger Federer has withdrawn from next week’s tournament in Dubai in order to continue his comeback training.

The 20-time grand slam champion, who was out of action for 14 months, tweeted that “it’s been great to be back” on the ATP Tour and he “loved every minute playing in Doha”. On his decision to withdraw from the event in Dubai, the Swiss said it’s “best to go back to training”.