FORMER British Cycling chief medic Richard Freeman - who was the club doctor at Bolton Wanderers for eight years - has been permanently struck off the medical register.

A Medical Practitioners Tribunal found Dr Freeman's fitness to practise impaired on Thursday and on Friday imposed the strongest possible sanction.

Dr Freeman, who was at Bolton betweem 2001 and 2009, either admitted or was found guilty on 21 of 22 charges relating to the ordering of testosterone to British Cycling headquarters in 2011 as well as poor record-keeping and inappropriate treatment of non-riders.

The central charge, which Dr Freeman denied, was that he ordered the Testogel "knowing or believing" it was to be given to a rider for doping purposes.

The tribunal dismissed Dr Freeman's defence and said on Thursday: "In all the circumstances, the tribunal determined that Dr Freeman's actions would be considered as deplorable by members of the public and fellow practitioners.

"The tribunal considered that Dr Freeman's conduct surrounding the order of the Testogel amounted to a long and considered pattern of very serious dishonesty."

Ordering him to be struck off, MPTS panel chairman Neil Dalton said: "• the number of lies Dr Freeman has told, the range of people and professional bodies to whom he has told them, the sustained period over which they have been told, and the number of people whose professional reputation he was prepared to damage to save his own - was a particularly significant aggravating factor in the case."