LONDON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Former British Cycling and Team Sky chief medical officer Richard Freeman has been banned from all sport for four years, effectively Dec. 21 next year, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) said on Tuesday. "The decision of the independent tribunal of the National Anti-Doping Panel confirms that Richard Freeman broke the UK Anti-Doping Rules," said UKAD chief executive Jane Rumble. UKAD opened an investigation in 2016 after receiving information of a possible anti-doping violation by individuals linked to Team Sky at the Criterium du Dauphine race in June 2011. Freeman worked for British Cycling and Team Sky during a golden period of success between 2009 and 2017. British Cycling chair Frank Slevin noted the verdict and thanked the NADP for its work.

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Persons: Richard Freeman, UKAD, Freeman, Jane Rumble, sachets, Sky, Frank Slevin, Richard Freeman’s, Alan Baldwin, Ed Osmond, Pritha Organizations: British Cycling, Team Sky, Sky, Criterium, Investigators, General Medical Council, Thomson Locations: British, Manchester, Ineos