British Cycling has no knowledge of what was in mystery package that is subject to UK Anti-Doping investigation, MPs told

Culture, Media and Sport select committee chair Damian Collins MP asked Bob Howden about a delivery made by British Cycling coach Simon Cope to Team Sky at the 2011 Dauphine Libere, a key race in the build-up to the Tour de France.

UKAD is investigating alleged ''wrongdoing'' at Team Sky and cycling's national governing body, and has visited the pair's headquarters in Manchester, taking documents and interviewing relevant witnesses.

Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford, British Cycling, Cope and individual riders have strongly denied breaking any anti-doping rules but the question over what was in the package continues to create heated debate.

Collins began the session by producing an email from UKAD chair David Kenworthy indicating that questions over the package should be permitted 'given the wide public interest in the subject'.

This took Howden and his fellow witness Dr George Gilbert, chair of the the British Cycling ethics commission, by surprise as they claimed it directly opposed their own instructions from UKAD.

But Howden was able to confirm no new information was available about the 2011 delivery.

Asked directly if he knew the contents, he said: "I don't know. It's a fair question to ask indeed but certainly I don't know and am not aware of any senior management teams of British Cycling who would know. As soon as the matter came to light we passed the matter over to UKAD."

He said earlier: "In respect of UKAD I'm somewhat taken aback.

"We've been advised by them not to comment because they are investigating. We are caught out a bit by that one. We are working under instructions with UKAD not to make any comment.

"We are not prepared for that at this moment.

"The board have been instructed to stand off from the process and open the door for investigation. We're not privy to discussions that have taken place between staff and UKAD.

"It is a somewhat surreal situation but we have not been part of that process."

Dr Gilbert responded to a question about medical packages being transported around the world by interjecting: "You are making the assumption it is a medical package.

"British Cycling sends packages on a regular basis. We have teams competing around the world and we regularly send out packages which might have anything from pedals to spare shoes. All sorts of things. This package may be different.

"We've not looked into this because we have been instructed by UKAD not to look into it. We have given evidence to UKAD. They've replied they are happy with the information given."

After Collins finished questioning the pair, his fellow committee members took turns to quiz them with the nature of the mystery package a favoured topic and a good deal of incredulity around the table that nobody had questioned the contents of a bag that was travelling across international borders.

At one stage Gilbert was asked if he felt that was "bizarre", to which he answered "yes".

He had the same answer when asked if he felt the messages from UKAD had been inconsistent, adding: "Of course we want to know what was inside the package. I think everybody wants to know what was inside the package."

Howden later stated: "We can only be as transparent as we are allowed to.

"We don't feel like we have anything to hide. We are transparent in what we do."

Former British Cycling team director and Team Sky coach Shane Sutton, who worked closely with Sir Bradley Wiggins for much of his career, was next to appear before the committee.

Leaked WADA documents revealed in September that Wiggins was granted therapeutic use exemptions - essentially doctor's notes allowing athletes to use medicine that would otherwise be banned - to use the powerful corticosteroid triamcinolone before his three biggest races in 2011, 2012 and 2013, including his famous 2012 Tour de France victory.

He was asked about the package and its relevance to Wiggins and appeared to shed at least some light on the subject by indicating it did contain medical supplies and that those supplies were given to his rider.

"I believe (Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman) administered the medication," he said.

"Obviously there was a medical supply he (Cope) delivered. I don't know what was in the package...whatever it was he would have administered. When the ingredients of the package comes out everybody will be clear. I'm quite sure, 100 per cent, there'll be no wrongdoing.

Sutton insisted his role as coach was purely a sporting one and he had extremely limited contact with the medical teams.

Despite that he was firm in his belief that there had been no breach of doping regulations by Team Sky, British Cycling, or Wiggins.

"My role in all of this was to be part of Brad's coaching team, not Brad's medical team," he said.

"I had no knowledge of the medical teams, (but) from my knowledge everything was above board and is above board.

"I never got too involved in that side of it. I'm not a doctor. For me it was always an area for their expertise.

"Knowing the kid (Wiggins) for many, many years as far I'm concerned he never worked outside any rules.

"Given the fact Dave Brailsford was probably the pioneer behind clean cycling and created what is probably the cleanest team in the world. He set up a zero tolerance programme, there was no wrongdoing there.

"I can't state strongly enough there was no wrongdoing on any part of Brad and Team Sky."

Sutton became more frustrated as his session continued and at one stage upbraided Labour MP Ian Lucas.

"I'm astounded you would take that sort of tone with me," he said.

"I'm upset you've questioned the integrity of our team which, for me, led by Sir Dave Brailsford is not only the greatest sports team in British history it's aligned with the All Blacks.

"I'm quite upset you feel that way."