Richard Freeman's defense attorney was scheduled to give evidence from Olympic champion Nicole Cook at his medical court hearing before Shane Sutton stormed out and refused to return for cross-examination.

According to BBC News (opens in new tab), Freeman's defense attorney Mary O'Rourke had permission to give evidence to Sutton, the 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, but the former British Cycling technical director left before He said.

The gold medalist is understood to be Cook, one of only two British cyclists to win the Manchester Games, along with Scottish sprinter Chris Hoy.

Cook was critical of British Cycling and Sutton over a sex discrimination case brought by sprinter Jess Varnish. Cook, along with fellow Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton, supported the sex discrimination claim.

Sutton voluntarily appeared in court earlier this month after Freeman claimed that an order for 30 bags of the testosterone replacement drug "Testogel" was made for Sutton's personal use, a claim the Australian vehemently denied.

The General Medical Council alleged that Freeman made the orders for the purpose of enhancing the athlete's performance, one of four of the 22 charges Freeman is contesting.

The GMC alleges that Freeman knew there was no clinical indication for non-athlete staff, that he ordered the test gels believing or knowing they would be administered to athletes (test gels are prohibited both in and out of competition), and that this motivation Alleges that he lied to cover up the fact that the GMC is using this accusation to challenge Fremen's fitness as a physician.

The court will decide Tuesday whether Sutton's testimony, which has not been cross-examined, can be offered as evidence; O'Rourke wants all charges in the dispute against Freemen thrown out if Sutton's testimony is axed; without Sutton's statement the four charges would "fall apart."

GMC attorney Simon Jackson claimed Sutton left the hearing as a "direct result" of "bullying" after calling O'Rourke a "liar" and a "doper" and said the accusations were intended to put pressure on Sutton.

Jackson also claimed that some of the evidence that was turned against Sutton came from anonymous sources, but O'Rourke said she had a name to go along with that statement. She stated that Sutton's departure made it impossible for her to present evidence from "three individuals" and from Cook and her father, who volunteered to reveal their names.