Brailsford’s grilling by MPs was part of a wider investigation into doping in sport, with the Team Sky supremo the final person to appear as a witness after Howden and Dr George Gilbert appeared jointly, followed by Sutton.

After facing questions on TUEs, specifically those issued to Sir Bradley Wiggins – as revealed earlier this year by the Fancy Bears data hack – Brailsford was then grilled on the medical package, which was said to be delivered for Freeman to use with Wiggins after his 2011 Dauphine win.

Fluimucil, also known as Acetylcysteine, is permitted by WADA for the treatment of coughs and sore throats. Though not licensed in the UK it is licensed for use in France. However, somewhat surprisingly, it is not recommended for use by asthma sufferers – of which Wiggins is one.

“There are lessons to be learned,” he admitted. “I have handled this situation very badly.”

On TUEs in sport, meanwhile, Brailsford remained adamant Team Sky had not broken any rules, and reiterated his faith in the system.

“It is very much driven by the medical team,” he said. “There’s a triple lock for TUEs – the rider, the medic and the independent consultant. Then it goes to Wada to sanction it.

“It’s about use and abuse, and we’ve never abused the system.

British Cycling are expected to confirm the contents of the medical package delivered to Team Sky at the Dauphine in the coming days, after Howden and Gilbert earlier promised that – were it a pharmaceutical package – it would be easy to confirm its contents.

After, repeatedly reiterating neither of them knew what was in the package, and nor had they ever asked as the UKAD investigation was ongoing, they signed off by promising to confirm the contents of the package to Collins.