The doctor at the centre of the Team Sky jiffy bag scandal was confronted by British Cycling chiefs after turning up at the World Cup in Manchester last weekend.

Sportsmail understands that the moment Julie Harrington was made aware that Dr Richard Freeman — who left his position with British Cycling last month — was in the HSBC UK National Cycling Centre, the body's new chief executive approached him in the cafe and encouraged him to leave.

It is believed Harrington, while powerless to eject Freeman from a public building, questioned the wisdom of him being there and said it would be better if he went. Freeman did not depart immediately but he was not seen again at the venue that weekend.

Dr Richard Freeman was asked by the chief of British Cycling to leave the World Cup

It was thought his presence would be embarrassing when cycling is under such scrutiny.

Freeman was the doctor who ordered the medical package for Sir Bradley Wiggins in June 2011, but was unable to provide evidence of what it contained because he had not kept a proper record. He claimed his work laptop had been stolen while he was on holiday in Greece.

Freeman was heavily criticised in a parliamentary hearing as a consequence.

He cited ill-health as his reason for not appearing before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee in March.

It was also because of ill-health that he was unable to give an interview to UK Anti-Doping staff looking into the medical package and did not appear before the human resources department at British Cycling.

Freeman was the doctor who ordered the medical package for Sir Bradley Wiggins in June 2011

A lack of evidence from Freeman was one reason for drugs investigators closing the jiffy bag case this week, with Damian Collins MP, chairman of the select committee, calling that a 'massive failure' of British Cycling and Team Sky on Thursday.

Freeman did, however, request permission to speak to a BBC documentary team about a tumultuous 18 months in British Cycling — it is due to be broadcast this week — but did not give an interview after his employers said if he was well enough for that he could talk to the official inquiries.

Instead Freeman chose to remain silent and resign, only to then return — albeit briefly — to the National Cycling Centre last weekend.