BBC Sports Editor Dan Roan has posted footage to Twitter of Sir Bradley Wiggins refusing to answer questions outside his home in Lancashire this morning about the mystery package containing medicine for him that was delivered to Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine.
The package was in the headlines this morning after UK Anti-doping chief executive Nicole Sapstead told the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport, which is investigating doping, that the agency was still unable to verify what was in the package. British Cycling last night admitted "serious failings" in its record keeping.
> UKAD boss quizzed by MPs about WIggins and Sky
On a separate issue, she also said that Team Sky had ordered more of the banned drug triamcinolone, which was administered to Wiggins under a therapeutic use exemption (TUE), than was necessary to treat one person.
At the start of the clip, the journalist asks, "Sir Bradley, can we just find out ... " but is interrupted by Wiggins, coming out of his gate, who says: "Not to my house, it's a private road, I'll call the police."
As a man and woman – possibly neighbours, although that is unclear – try to block the camera, Wiggins is asked, as he walks away: “Sir Bradley, we just wanted to find out a bit about the mystery package, whether you knew about it or not?”
While some people commenting on Roan’s Twitter post this morning have said the BBC was guilty of invading Wiggins’ privacy, others say that the continued silence does not reflect well on the five-time Olympic champion and 2012 Tour de France winner.
'Doorstepping', the name given to the press waiting outside someone's home to obtain their views on a story about them, is a practice that often comes under criticism for not respecting people's privacy - although in many cases, it is only used when it has proved impossible to obtain a response through other channels.
Shortly before Christmas, after Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford claimed to the select committee that the package contained the decongestant Fluimucil, Wiggins was in an apparently more light-hearted mood as he posted a Braveheart-themed image to Instagram.
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54 comments
I wouldn't argue with an angry drugged up dude.
Are people really surprised that anyone doorstepped about an ongoing investigation refused to talk about it?
The BBC have gone down in my estimation.
I don't have much time for Wiggins, but the BBC should be concentrating it's resources on doorstepping the likes of David Cameron, Tony Blair and the raft of avaricious incompetents that are busy rolling back society to Victorian workfare.
I don't really give a f*** what drugs (or not) some eejit entertainer takes.
Brave BBC.
The BBC only investigates what the government allow them too. Don't count on the government ever being made to actually right any wrongs. It's the same the world over.
Get that headline edited! I was expecting a story about a parcel left on his doorstep...
Filming yourself trespassing?
Them hacks got balls of steel going up against this.
This? WTF?
He'd have had a boot up his arse if he turned up at my house with a camera out of the blue like that.
Why, have you been doping too?
You are neither funny nor clever. Its obviously sensationalist journalism and regardless of whether he has a case to answer its not right turning up at his home like that.
Vic_Bob_Handbags.jpg
oh come on - it was a bit funny
Yeah because he needs even more bad press.
I'd expect this of The Sun/Mirror/Mail, but it's pathetic of the BBC. What did they expect given the circumstances, a full and frank interview?
Yep. Not a fan of Wiggins but this is despicable, lazy 'journalism'.
Especially as he did the Andrew Marr interview on the BBC.
When all else fails, why not? This has been going on for months damaging his own reputation and British Cycling's. Yet he's never uttered a word. PR disaster of the highest order.
Because it's a really shit thing to do. Just because people are a bit suspicious of some things that have gone on, doesn't mean that the press can fcuk with their lives. Or do you think it's also ok for them to hack voicemail etc. to find out the truth...?
Plus there's a major enquiry ongoing, he probably can't speak up even if he wanted too.
Ti'Witter
It's a social media site from Yorkshire.
Works best on Yorkshire mobile network EEeeee.
What's Tiwitter (sic)?
Don't think I would be ansewring questions at my front gate about my work.
Raid his wheelie bins!
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