Britain's anti-doping agency faces independent investigation

LONDON (AP) — Britain's anti-doping agency faces a government-mandated investigation into why it dismissed allegations that a doctor prescribed performance-enhancing drugs to a sportsman.

The Sunday Times newspaper said documents implicating Dr. Mark Bonar were handed to U.K. Anti-Doping in 2014 by an unnamed sportsman who had been suspended for breaching doping rules.

UKAD confirmed Sunday that it opened an investigation into Bonar after interviewing a sportsperson in April and May 2014 but said the doctor fell outside its jurisdiction because he was not governed by a sport.

"UKAD had no other intelligence to corroborate the sportsman's allegations," the agency said in a statement.

"As a result, UKAD recommended to the sportsperson that more information was needed and ... that information could be passed, if appropriate, to the General Medical Council, which does have the powers to investigate possible medical malpractice and pursue if necessary."

2024 Paris Olympics: Follow USA TODAY’s coverage of the biggest names and stories of the Games.

But Britain's culture, media and sport department wants further information from UKAD about its handling of the case.

"I have asked for there to be an urgent independent investigation into what action was taken when these allegations were first received and what more needs to be done to ensure that British sport remains clean," Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said in a statement.

"There is no room for complacency in the fight against doping and the government is already looking at whether existing legislation in this area goes far enough. If it becomes clear that stronger criminal sanctions are needed then we will not hesitate to act."

The Sunday Times also secretly recorded Bonar making allegations to an unnamed "aspiring Olympic runner" sent to see him by the paper about how banned performance-enhancing drugs had been prescribed for sportspeople.

"Some of these treatments I use are banned on a professional circuit," Bonar was recorded as saying. "So, you have to be mindful of that. Having said that — I have worked with lots of professional athletes who do use these treatments."

The General Medical Council, the regulatory body for doctors, said Bonar does not currently hold a license so cannot practice medicine in Britain.

"These are serious allegations and we will follow them up as a matter of urgency," GMC chief executive Niall Dickson said.

Attempts to reach Bonar were unsuccessful, but The Sunday Times reported that he denied doping sportspeople.

"The fact that some of my patients happen to be professional athletes is irrelevant," the newspaper quoted Bonar as saying. "If they have proven deficiencies on blood work and are symptomatic, I will treat them.

"They are well fully aware of the risks of using these medicines in professional sport and it is their responsibility to comply with anti-doping regulations."