The United Kingdom Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) may charge former British Cycling and Team Ineos doctor Richard Freeman under the World Anti-Doping Agency statute of limitations, The Times reported. (Open in new tab)

Freeman is currently the focus of a medical tribunal, facing allegations that he ordered testosterone doses to athletes in June 2011 to improve performance.

On Tuesday, Freeman admitted to ordering the testosterone, but appeared to claim that it was for a staff member, namely former British Cycling and Team Sky technical director Shane Sutton.

If the General Medical Council (GMC), which is taking Freeman to court, can sustain the allegations, UKAD is prepared to take action, given that testosterone is banned in and out of competition.

There has been some confusion as to whether UKAD can file charges because of changes to the WADA statute of limitations (the period during which anti-doping violations are punishable). In 2011, when Freeman ordered the testosterone, the statute of limitations was eight years from the date of the violation, meaning that the opportunity for sanctions had passed.

However, WADA upgraded the statute of limitations to 10 years in 2015. According to the Times, UKAD has received assurances that the 10-year period may apply in this case.

After the first court date was postponed to February, Freeman appeared in Manchester on Tuesday and the trial began anew.

The court is now discussing amending the language of Freeman's motion to state that his "motive for ordering the testosterone was 'to administer it to athletes to improve their athletic performance.'"

The GMC wants "motive" replaced with the idea that Freeman knew or believed in its potential. GMC wants to replace "motive" with the idea that Freeman knew or believed in that possibility.

A decision on the proposed amendment should be rendered Tuesday morning, at which point the hearing should begin.

Sutton has been called as a witness by the GMC, and Freeman's lawyers are eager to cross-examine him. Freeman has requested that screens - from Sutton and from the public gallery - be shown during certain parts of the hearing.

Freeman faces more than 22 allegations from the GMC, including misconduct regarding his retention of medical records and treatment of staff associates, but he is only contesting three related to testosterone delivery.