SOMERSET BMX star Liam Phillips has given evidence in an employment tribunal brought against British Cycling and UK Sport by his partner, former Olympic cyclist Jess Varnish.

It came on the day former British Cycling and Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman pulled out of giving evidence on Jess Varnish's behalf at her employment tribunal in Manchester.

Dr Freeman had been scheduled to appear at the tribunal on Wednesday but Varnish's barrister David Reade QC told Employment Judge Ross that the medic has been advised by his own lawyers that he should not attend.

This is related to Dr Freeman facing a General Medical Council (GMC) tribunal in February, when he will be questioned about the delivery of testosterone patches to the National Cycling Centre and other contentious issues related to his time with cycling's national governing body and the world's best road cycling team.

Reade explained to the tribunal that a copy of Dr Freeman's written statement had been provided by British Cycling to the GMC and the medical body had said it would send representatives to the employment tribunal to hear his evidence.

Reade said that with British Cycling's barrister Thomas Linden QC certain to "cross-examine Dr Freeman to establish his probity", the doctor's lawyers advised him not to attend.

Judge Ross pointed out that if the respondents cannot cross-examine him, she must give his witness statement "limited weight or none at all".

Reade replied by saying Varnish's camp would withdraw the statement.

This provoked an indignant response from Linden, who claimed that British Cycling had only informed the GMC of Dr Freeman's scheduled appearance as a courtesy and to ask it for guidance on whether it could bring up his other legal difficulties in cross-examination.

The national governing body was told it should not and Linden was ready to proceed on that basis.

READ MORE: Phillips to give evidence at tribunal involving partner, Jess Varnish

He then criticised Dr Freeman for "not having the courage to be cross-examined or for me to point out to him that his statements are false".

Linden continued by claiming that Dr Freeman "has form" for pulling out of hearings, having already failed to appear before a 2017 parliamentary inquiry into "the Jiffy bag scandal that engulfed (five-time Olympic champion and Tour de France winner) Sir Bradley Wiggins" because of ill health.

He then said that Dr Freeman resigned from British Cycling instead of facing disciplinary action for his alleged poor record-keeping.

"You would have to say that Dr Freeman has a bit of an axe to grind against British Cycling," said Linden.

With Dr Freeman absent, the respondents' cross-examinations were complete and the tribunal continued with the first of the British Cycling witnesses, its lawyer Matthew Barnes, facing questions about his written statement from Reade.

Earlier on Wednesday, Varnish's two other supporting witnesses, her agent James Harper and her partner and former GB BMX star Liam Phillips, from Burnham-on-Sea, had given evidence.

Just as Varnish experienced on Tuesday, Harper was strongly challenged on his written statement by Linden.

Harper, who represents Phillips, Varnish and several other athletes, has claimed that British Cycling is "the most aggressive" governing body he works with in terms of controlling the commercial rights of its athletes.

To support this claim, he listed the difficulties he had while trying to do personal deals for Varnish and Shanaze Reade, the multiple BMX and track world champion.

He also discussed Ben Swift's contentious move from Katusha to Team Sky in 2010.

"Other sports are much better developed in protecting their athletes," wrote Harper.

"The level of control exercised by British Cycling is enormous."

Linden, however, described Harper's testimony as "nonsense" and repeatedly challenged him to prove his points by citing relevant documents.

Phillips fared better, though, as he pushed back at Linden's points, saying "that's your opinion" on several occasions.

Varnish is trying to persuade the tribunal that she, and other funded athletes, are employees, so she can the sue British Cycling for wrongful dismissal and sex discrimination when they dropped her from the programme in March 2016.