Shane Sutton: Nothing to hide for Brailsford, Wiggins or British Cycling

A furore has erupted over the decision to seek permission for Sir Bradley Wiggins to use triamcinolone.

And UKAD is investigating allegations of wrongdoing in cycling, over a package delivered to Team Sky at the end of the Criterium du Dauphine stage race won by Wiggins in June 2011. Team Sky deny wrongdoing and are co-operating with UKAD.

Sutton, who left his role 100 days prior to this summer's Olympics amid allegations of discrimination which he denies, has complete faith in both Wiggins and Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford.

The Australian, Wiggins' long-time mentor, told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "Our record at British Cycling speaks for itself, our record at (Team) Sky is brilliant, they've endorsed clean cycling from day one.

"Knowing Sir Dave Brailsford and the way he works, his work ethic, he's been the big pioneer for clean cycling and we built our success off evidence-based programmes. The evidence will come out and I'm sure that they'll be exonerated."

Brailsford has declined to reveal the package's contents, preferring UKAD to complete its investigation.

Sutton, who was at the Dauphine race in the Alps, added: "It's not something uncommon, for a coach or a logistics person to bring out a parcel. I don't know too much about the whole story but I've had a chat with UK Anti-Doping.

"Let the truth come out and move on."

Wiggins in 2012 became the first British rider to win the Tour de France. He also won time-trial gold on the road at that summer's Olympic Games in London, and his team pursuit gold on the track in Rio in August was his fifth Olympic title and British record eighth medal.

Data stolen by computer hackers after the Rio Games revealed he received three therapeutic use exemptions for triamcinolone - a substance which has a history of abuse in cycling and is otherwise banned - on the eve of the 2011 and 2012 Tours and 2013 Giro d'Italia.

Wiggins and Brailsford have strenuously denied any wrongdoing, insisting each time the TUEs were medically necessary to deal with a pollen allergy that aggravates Wiggins' long-standing asthma condition.

The TUEs also had the approval of the UCI, cycling's world governing body, and there is no suggestion that Wiggins, who left Team Sky in April 2015, or the team have broken any rules.

Wiggins plans to retire at the end of this year and races for the final time on British soil at the London Six Day, which begins on Tuesday.

Sutton said: "I think we all need to get behind him again and support him because in my belief, this guy has done no wrong.

"Once all this comes out, we can get back and cherish one of the greatest moments in British sport, when we produced the first British Tour de France winner in 2012.

"Brad will be bearing up because he knows what the truth is, knows it's all going to come out.

"The couple of texts I've had with him, he seems in a good place. We're talking about one of the greatest athletes ever."

British Cycling this week announced that chief executive Ian Drake will leave his post next April. Drake has insisted his departure after a 21-year association is not linked to the recent controversies.

Sutton said: "The timing's not great as far as the announcement's concerned but I wish him well. He was a big supporter of mine. It's a sad day for British Cycling to see the end of Ian Drake's tenure."

British Cycling is now recruiting for a chief executive and a first performance director since Brailsford quit in April 2014 to concentrate on Team Sky.

There has been a clamour from some quarters for Sutton, who was Brailsford's right-hand man before being promoted on his departure, to return if he is cleared of discrimination allegations. An internal investigation is to conclude imminently and a separate independent review into the culture at British Cycling is ongoing.

Sutton, who denies the claims, said in The Sunday Telegraph: "As I've said all along, I am confident that I will be cleared of any wrongdoing.

"And if I am, I'd like to think they would ask me to reconsider my resignation. I resigned when I did to take the heat off the team 100 days out from the Olympic Games. But I totally refute the claims."