Shane Sutton's name returned to the center of the Richard Freeman Medical Tribunal this week. In addition to new allegations of doping during his jockeying career, new allegations have surfaced concerning vials of EPO allegedly found in his car while he was coach of the Welsh national team.

The EPO allegations were brought forward by Tony Cook, father of 2008 Olympic champion Nicole Cook, who also expressed concern that UK Anti-Doping had not followed up on the leads he had presented.

After Sutton himself was cross-examined as a witness before the General Medical Council last November, Freeman's lawyers this week called two witnesses: Cook and former jockey Kvetoslav Palov.

Cook was questioned about a story he heard from Shane Sutton's driver at the 1998 Five Valleys Road Race.

"Your informant said that Mr. Sutton was very upset that this was left in a running car. He thought the rider had left it there intentionally," the GMC lawyer asked Cook, according to the Guardian (open in new tab). 'That's correct,' Cook replied. 'My own interpretation at the time was that he [Sutton] was innocent.

"You also say that you were uncomfortable with the Welsh coach's recognition of the EPO in the vial." Cook was asked, to which he replied: "From what I have been told, Mr. Sutton was apparently able to recognize the EPO."

On Tuesday, Paloff gave evidence from Australia via video link, denying Sutton's claims that he had no experience or knowledge of doping as an athlete or coach during the Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Select Committee (DCMS) parliamentary inquiry.

"Anyone who claims that he is a professional cyclist and has never seen anyone take drugs is lying," Paloff said, according to The Guardian.

"Anyone who has been around pro cyclists for this long and doesn't know that someone is taking drugs is absolutely lying.

Freeman's lawyer had already hit Sutton with doping allegations when he appeared in court last November. Sutton denied doping as a rider or coach and recused himself from the hearing.

Parov referred to the 1987 Tour of Britain, when he and Sutton were teammates on the ANC-Halfords, and claimed that he and Sutton had used the toilet at a McDonald's in Edinburgh before the first stage. According to The Guardian, Paloff was challenged by GMC's lawyers, who pointed out that McDonald's did not have a Scottish store at the time and questioned whether he and Sutton were in the bathroom together.

Parov admitted that he may not have been with Sutton in the restroom he now claims was a "fast food restaurant," but insisted that the entire team would have used that restroom. He also reportedly told the court that ANC-Halfords soigneur Angus Fraser spent £10,000 on drugs for Sutton at the 1987 Tour de France.

"Shane said he knew nothing about drugs in sport. 'I have witnessed drugs in the Tour de France, syringes in toilets.

Cook also expressed concern about whether UKAD was fit for purpose, telling the court how he gathered doping allegations about Sutton and submitted them to UKAD in 2013.

According to The Guardian, "I was concerned that it would not be followed up. I was surprised when the UKAD officer told me that he could not give me a copy of the evidence I had submitted. I felt that was not according to natural justice."

Cook was later read an email he sent to UKAD, reportedly stating that he and Nicole believed Sutton was "someone who could never be trusted" but had no direct evidence of wrongdoing: "Certainly neither Nicole nor I ever saw him use performance enhancing drugs. I have never seen him use performance-enhancing drugs. We never encouraged Nicole to do so. So on the prima facie evidence, he is definitely innocent and we are being overly cautious."

Cook countered Monday: "I'm giving Sutton the benefit of the doubt. He is innocent until proven guilty. I have no prejudice in the investigation."

Freeman's trial will continue this week, but it will take place beyond the November 26 end date, so a new date must be found in 2021 to complete the process. On Tuesday, it was revealed that if Freeman's QC, Mary O'Rourke, cannot find time in January, the current court presiding officer will not be available again until October.

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