Freeman has admitted to 18 of the 22 charges issued by the GMC

Richard Freeman, the former British Cycling and Team Sky doctor, is likely to face anti-doping charges before the conclusion of his long-running medical tribunal.

The doctor is contesting a charge from the General Medical Council (GMC) that he ordered 30 sachets of testosterone “knowing or believing” it was to be used to enhance an athlete’s performance in 2011.

UK anti-doping chiefs had decided to wait until after the hearing — which is due to resume in April — to consider its own charges anti-doping against him, in case more evidence emerged.

But the delays to a hearing that was due to start last February and is now scheduled to run until at least October are, The Times understands, putting pressure on anti-doping chiefs to act