Dr Richard Freeman’s medical tribunal is in serious danger of not being completed this year, Telegraph Sport understands.

It raises the possibility that evidence arising from the hearing might fall outside the statute of limitations for UK Anti-Doping to act upon. Or that Team Sky might be sold or quit the sport before the case is heard.

Freeman, the former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor, is accused of ordering testosterone to British Cycling’s headquarters in 2011 with the intention to dope an athlete.

However, the case is struggling to get going. It was meant to begin last Wednesday, only for an adjournment of 48 hours to be granted due to a preliminary application which was lodged by Freeman’s legal team.

Now, the tribunal is getting bogged down by legal arguments, which are being heard in private. Witnesses are being delayed and rescheduled.