A DOCTOR who gained his qualification in Ireland is at the centre of a doping scandal that called into question the extent of cheating in British sport.
Dr Mark S. Bonar – who is based in London - was secretly filmed by The Sunday Times allegedly describing how he prescribed banned performance enhancing drugs to 150 elite sportsmen.
The newspaper claims that the 38-year-old told their reporter that he charged a range of athletes thousands of pounds for his services.
Following the revelation the British Government has ordered an inquiry into why the UK Anti-Doping (UKad) agency – which they fund – did not take action after being given evidence of the doctor’s alleged doping practices two years ago.
We take a closer look at the scandal – here’s what has been revealed so far
1. Dr Mark S. Bonar is alleged to have treated an English cricketer, British Tour de France cyclists, a British boxing champion and tennis players, amongst others.
2. In a six-year period, Dr Bonar told The Sunday Times he treated 150 sports people from Britain and abroad with banned substances such as erythropoietin (EPO), steroids and human growth hormone.
3. The role of UKad – which is investigating the recent doping allegations in Russian sport and is battling to prevent the use of drugs ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio this summer - has also been called into question
4. Dr Bonar is an anti-ageing doctor who has treated private patients at the Omniya clinic in Knightsbridge, London. The clinic has said it did not know Dr Bonar was treating sports stars.
The Omniya clinic where he is said to have treated his patients (Photo: Google Maps)5. According to his LinkedIn page the doctor graduated from the University College of Dublin in 2001. He also tweeted his pride when Ireland won the 2015 Six Nations and his sadness when broadcaster Terry Wogan died.
6. Since June last year, the General Medical Council’s register of doctors states that Dr Bonar is registered but does not have a license to practice medicine. This means, for example, that he cannot issue prescriptions or sign death certificates.
RIP Sir Terry Wogan. A national Irish treasure!
— Dr Mark S. Bonar (@ZenGrifter) 31 January 2016
What happens next?
1. John Whittingdale the Culture, Media and Sport Secretary has called for an urgent independent investigation into what action was taken by UKad when these allegations were first made apparent two years ago.
2. The Sunday Times did not list any of the athletes involved. It's unclear at this stage as to whether their names will ever be revealed.
3. It also remains to be seen whether Dr Bonar will be the subject of any official investigation relating to these allegations – so far he has denied the claims on his Twitter account.
See More: British Sport, Doping Scandal, Featured, London, Mark Bonar
