leading to some lengthy spells of sunshine. coolair leading to some lengthy spells of sunshine. cool air everywhere. top temperatures everywhere, 13—14 in the sunshine. eight to 10 degrees. more cloud of the north sea. on saturday, for northern england, perhaps into the middlesbrough well, but away from here, more in the way of sunshine, another cold and frosty start, and temperatures not changing so much on saturday. on easter sunday, not too bad. dry and sunny, wet and windy behind that first where the front, much wintry heading our way. an arctic blast of wind in time for easter monday. strong to gale force winds will make it feel cold. wintry showers with some snow, mainly the hills. that's all from the bbc news at six, so it's goodbye from me, hello and welcome to sportsday — british cycling and its former doctor richard were in the spotlight again, we will have more on why. the defending champions england gets set to kick off the six nations campaign, will head live and the camp ahead of their opener against scotland. admission hills in california has hosting gulfs first major event of the year, will have the latest from day one to the a and a. and coming up in the programme this evening. we will cure from jimmy chadwick as she gets set to race off in the motorsports new event this weekend. welcome along to sportsday this evening. let's start with yet more scrutiny on british cycling and its former chief doctor richard freeman. it relates to a request he made to uk anti doping to share riders�* athlete biological passport data in 2016. in an email seen by the bbc it was suggested the information would help "to give warning of targeted testing." ukad blocked the proposal, but the world anti—doping agency is looking into the matter. this all relates to early 2016. a few months before the games. at that point, we'll of obtained e—mail correspondence between british cycling former chief doctor and members of the governing bodies hierarchy and in this correspondence, he details how he suggests asking writers for monthly at the biological passport test results for statistical analysis similar to that performed by anti—doping agencies. he says this is an opportunity to give warning of targeted testing. freeman said it would allow early detection and fluctuations of the writers aptly biological passport, but that is an electronic record, a profile if you like of competitors readings to look for abnormalities which may be a signal of potential doping. so it's become a passport for those who are fighting for clean sport and this would give time, he put it for writers to consider reasons as to why there may be fluctuations and prepare a defence. the following month of february 2016, british cyclists anti—doping commission met and minutes from that meeting show that indeed, doctor freeman did make a proposal that the anti—doping share the data from the biological passport for writers so they could do that analysis and british cycling in a statement today have said that the proposal was made with the intention of better supporting the better work of anti—doping organisations, but i can tell you that the road anti—doping organisation has referred this case to their investigations department and of course, they are already looking into the circumstances surrounding a case in 2011, five years before this one and their handling of the situation where british writers had tracings of that and their system they told british cycling about that and allowed them to conduct private testing of writers testing and that is being looked at and now this additional controversy too.— controversy too. what is the reaction been _ controversy too. what is the reaction been to _ controversy too. what is the reaction been to the - controversy too. what is the reaction been to the latest l reaction been to the latest development?— reaction been to the latest develoment? ., ., ., , development? doctor freeman has declined to comment _ development? doctor freeman has declined to comment and - development? doctor freeman has declined to comment and while - development? doctor freeman has| declined to comment and while they are looking into this in their investigation, i should see the doctor freeman just a few weeks ago was found guilty by medical tribunal as he was the former chief doctor of the team and ordering the band and testosterone to them mid—2011. with the knowledge or intention that it would be used to help dope a writer, something that he denies but some he was found guilty of and has been struck off the medical register by that tribunal and so he has declined to comment and british cycling, as i've said, this a proposal made with the intention of better supporting the intention of better supporting the work of anti—doping organisations but i think given the other fallout from doctor freeman's guilty verdict, it raises concerns as to whether or not british cycling was in some ways seeking in any way to gain an advantage because that would be the concern if athletes data is being shared by the governing body in conducting their own analysis, whether or not, with the wrong intentions, that can be used to train some way mark 1's own home. british cycling denies that it has to be said but given everything else that is going on, british cycling, and the amounts of public money in the governing body has enjoyed in recent years, given its success as well, and both the olympics and paralympics, i think inevitably, i think it will be under scrutiny as a result and the slater story. scrutiny as a result and the slater sto . . , ., scrutiny as a result and the slater sto. . the women's six nations begins this weekend with england taking on scotland in the opening fixture on saturday in doncaster. scotland head coach bryan easson has named his team — and it's an unchanged back—line from the one that drew with france in their last match in october. captain rachel malcolm starts at six while another forward, evie gallagher, is in line to win her first cap from the bench. because of lockdown, because the way it's been going to the pandemic, we've been able to train with a larger squad and been able to bring in players that we think are close enough to selection and because of that, they've been able to train over the past few months with, really push themselves into the frame and so if you are good enough, you'll get in. it's not about reputation, it's how you are performing. meanwhile for england — helena rowland will start at ten. centre emily scarratt captains the side as regular skipper sarah hunter continues her return from injury. delighted to say we are joined by one of those starters let's have a look at some other stories making headline today, and staying with rugby. worcester warriors wing chris ashton has been banned for six weeks after his red card for dangerous play against northampton on saturday. that means the former england international will miss all but the last two premiership games... worcester are seven points adrift at the bottom of the table uefa are considering whether to allow teams to name more than 23 players in their squads for the euros this summer. that will allow managers like gareth southgate to have extra cover if players are unavailable due to covid related issues. yeovil town have announced their captain lee collins has died at the age of 32. the national league club have postponed their game against altrincham tomorrow after revealing he passed away yesterday. the defender played his last game in february but was on the bench for yeovil�*s match against barnet on saturday. they've asked everyone to respect his family's privacy. lee collins, who's died at the age of 32. in saudi arabia, the series is all off and uses electric vehicles in order to raise awareness forjimmy all gets underway in the desert on saturday — you excited? we had quite a big build—up and the ship and the cause around the world and now we have arrived at the track today and it is so exciting and i can truly wait for everyone to see it. it's going to be really cool. can you explain how it will all work? ., _, . , can you explain how it will all work? ., . , can you explain how it will all work? ., , ., work? the whole concept as we are raising this — work? the whole concept as we are raising this all _ work? the whole concept as we are raising this all around _ work? the whole concept as we are raising this all around the _ work? the whole concept as we are raising this all around the world - work? the whole concept as we are raising this all around the world in i raising this all around the world in this one male driver and one female driver, each driver changes in the middle and obviously with the electric vehicles and the platform that we have, will be advocating climate change and male and female drivers obviously promoting gender equality as well. so, it is an amazing platform and one that i have never experienced, ultimately the racing is going to be really exciting as well.— racing is going to be really exciting as well. jamie, you are exnerienced — exciting as well. jamie, you are experienced in _ exciting as well. jamie, you are experienced in your _ exciting as well. jamie, you are experienced in your career - exciting as well. jamie, you are experienced in your career and | exciting as well. jamie, you are l experienced in your career and so much ahead of you to achieve in your career, where do you think this ranks with your vast achievements already? i ranks with your vast achievements alread ? ~ , , ., , already? i think this is for sure the highest — already? i think this is for sure the highest level. _ already? i think this is for sure the highest level. again, - already? i think this is for sure j the highest level. again, some already? i think this is for sure i the highest level. again, some of the highest level. again, some of the biggest names in the sport. yeah, i think for a trip level. —— for sure this is the highest level. this can be a great challenge for me. ., this can be a great challenge for me, ., ., this can be a great challenge for me. ., ., , ., , this can be a great challenge for me. ., ., , , ., me. how do you set the goals for the ear? i me. how do you set the goals for the year? i just — me. how do you set the goals for the year? i just think _ me. how do you set the goals for the year? ijust think i _ me. how do you set the goals for the year? i just think i need _ me. how do you set the goals for the year? i just think i need to _ me. how do you set the goals for the year? i just think i need to learn - year? i 'ust think i need to learn and we year? i just think i need to learn and we have _ year? i just think i need to learn and we have to _ year? i just think i need to learn and we have to see _ year? i just think i need to learn and we have to see where - year? i just think i need to learn and we have to see where we're| year? i just think i need to learn i and we have to see where we're at this we can. no one really knows enough and it is very, very different for me. for sure, there's a bit of pressure on but ijust need to learn and i want to be quick i want to be there and i think of got a great team behind me to do that. ultimately, we're going to have a really good weekend and will set the standard for the rest of the year. still to come on sportsday. we'll hearfrom rob burrow and kevin sinfield about the money they have raised to try and find a cure for motor neurone's disease. i'm proud to have others benefiting from the money raised in my name. golf's first major of the year is under way — with the ana inspiration taking place in california. mention some of uk early starters based on performances. there's been plenty of british interests in the morning groupings and a disappointing 2020 but she seems to be bouncing back this year. as you can see, she is 200 39 there and in the lead at the moment of four under the area. 100 for her as well as northern ireland. and charlie level so far injodi, your shadows dropped off a little bit so on the opening—round two over. let's go live to the usa let's go live to the usa and speak to golf journalist amy rogders. credit for this event, the 50th edition of it, it got pushed back last year into a different spot, does this feel like normalcy resuming for women's golf? it does, does feel a — resuming for women's golf? it does, does feel a little _ resuming for women's golf? it does, does feel a little bit _ resuming for women's golf? it does, does feel a little bit like _ does feel a little bit like normalcy, which is a nice way to get back to the regular time slot and it is very warm, it is very beautiful here in temperatures are expected to climb into the triple digits and later in this weekend and it's going to be hot, it's going to be a great test i think players are really excited to just be out here and back, playing the first event of the first major of the year. let’s back, playing the first event of the first major of the year.— first major of the year. let's go throu . h first major of the year. let's go through one — first major of the year. let's go through one of _ first major of the year. let's go through one of the _ first major of the year. let's go through one of the ones - first major of the year. let's go through one of the ones we - first major of the year. let's go l through one of the ones we could first major of the year. let's go - through one of the ones we could be talking but of the first four days, the defending champion, had sheila coming into this? we the defending champion, had sheila coming into this?— coming into this? we really haven't seen much — coming into this? we really haven't seen much success _ coming into this? we really haven't seen much success from _ coming into this? we really haven't seen much success from her- coming into this? we really haven't seen much success from her since l coming into this? we really haven't i seen much success from her since she got herfirst major seen much success from her since she got her first major victory here in 2020 and went on to withdraw with an injury at the next major chairmanship of the year and so, interesting to see if she can find the form here and so many champions will return here to the inspiration and talk about the good memories they have in the memories ofjumping into the pond and hearing that we may be one of those just returning and having those good feelings might be able to return in some form as well. this be able to return in some form as well. �* , ., ., ~ be able to return in some form as well. �* , ., well. as we look at the wider pack, 1-0. well. as we look at the wider pack, 1-0- what — well. as we look at the wider pack, 1-0. what should _ well. as we look at the wider pack, 1-0. what should we _ well. as we look at the wider pack, 1-0. what should we be _ well. as we look at the wider pack, 1-0. what should we be looking - well. as we look at the wider pack, | 1-0. what should we be looking for? 1—0. what should we be looking for? yeah, i think the big story that is going right now is the return of michelle, she is currently second on the leaderboard and jumped out to the leaderboard and jumped out to the early lead here, this will be a real comeback story if we can see