WADA president Sir Craig Reedie fears drugs whistleblowers will stay silent as government calls for UKAD inquiry

The man leading the fight against drugs in sport fears whistleblowers could be put off coming forward after the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) was dragged into a controversy allegedly involving Premier League footballers and other leading British athletes.

Dr Mark Bonar claimed in a Sunday Times investigation to have treated 150 elite sportsmen in Britain and abroad with performance-enhancing drugs ranging from EPO to human growth hormone.

Calls have been made for UKAD to be declared non compliant and their chief executive Nicole Sapstead to step down after it transpired the body took no action following allegations from a whistleblower.

World Anti-Doping Agency boss Sir Craig Reedie told Standard Sport: “It would be a shame if the way this story is portrayed it would stop people coming forward to UK Anti-Doping.”

Reedie said UKAD would have been “embarrassed by all of this” but defended the organisation and insisted there was no question of UKAD being declared non-compliant nor British sportsmen and women being stopped from competing.

“It’s certainly not the case that WADA would declare any national anti-doping organisation non compliant on the basis of one substantial assistance case and there’s no question that this will affect British participation in Rio,” he said.

Dan Stevens, a 39-year-old amateur cyclist, is thought to be the whistleblower at the centre of the story.

He approached UKAD with information and the organisation began an investigation into Bonar but found out the doctor was outside their jurisdiction.

The Sunday Times reported that Dr Bonar told their undercover reporter he had treated a host of sports stars including players and former players of Arsenal, Chelsea and Leicester.

All three clubs expressed their anger at the publication of allegations made against them which they insist are “without foundation”.

The Omniya Clinic, based in Knightsbridge, where Dr Bonar rented rooms to treat private patients, revealed it had ceased its professional services agreement with him on Friday.

Sapstead and UKAD have been criticised for failing to report the allegations to the General Medical Council (GMC).

However, Reedie said it was wrong to castigate them. He added: “UKAD are a highly responsible and efficient organisation.

"And people have to remember that UKAD didn’t have the extent of the information the Sunday Times did with regards to allegations about 150 sportsmen.

“If UKAD didn’t act properly it was because they either didn’t have any information or powers.

"With regards to the GMC, maybe they should and maybe they shouldn’t have contacted them.

"But there’s an independent inquiry so we need to let those run their course before there are any accusations of guilt.”