Few fanfares for Sir Bradley Wiggins, cycling's king of gold... but should he be stripped of his knighthood?

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In Rio it all appeared perfect. Sir Bradley Wiggins won a fifth Olympic gold medal in the most dramatic circumstances, seemingly bringing down the curtain on what might have been the finest career in British sporting history.

Here, after all, was a cyclist who had conquered the world at just about every distance from 4km to 2,000 miles; who had amassed eight Olympic medals in all, not to mention eight world titles and that iconic hour record. 

He even managed to leave the track for a few years to become the first Briton to win the Tour de France. 

Sir Bradley Wiggins conquered the world at just about any distance from 4km to 2000 miles

As well as talent Wiggins, had charisma and a personality that made him a darling of the media

But David Walsh of The Sunday Times, the man who first exposed Lance Armstrong, says Wiggins should be stripped of his knighthood and should have an asterisk against his Tour win 

That he had to slim down from 12-and-a-half stone to 11 stone — when he stands at a gangly 6ft 3in — to beat the professional peloton on the road seemed only to underline his dedication.

Sure, he occasionally went off the rails. He made no secret of the demons he tried to drown in alcohol after the 2004 Olympics in Athens and I have seen him let off steam with the odd cigarette.

But I've also seem him all but starve himself to achieve that almost skeletal appearance that enabled him to be competitive on the brutal ascents of the Alps and the Pyrenees. 

While others enjoyed a nice lunch, his calorie intake was limited to what the sports scientists at Sky would tell him he could consume; enough to maintain a punishing training regime without making himself ill.

As well as talent, Wiggins had charisma. 'Thank f*** that's over,' was how he reflected on victory against the mighty Australian team pursuit quartet in August, his clowning continuing with a cheeky poking out of the tongue on the podium.

'Thank f*** that's over,' Wiggins reflected on victory against Australia's team pursuit quartet

Wiggins made history four years ago when he became the first Brit to win the Tour de France

He reached his peak, of course, in 2012, following that historic victory on the Champs-Elysees

Wiggins was rewarded for 2012 triumphs with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award 

Wiggins sat on a throne after winning gold in the men's time trial at the 2012 Olympic Games

A young Wiggins learning to ride a bike in his early years - he would go on to be a champion

How Sportsmail broke the story on October 7

In the eyes of the public he reached his peak in 2012, following that historic win on the Champs Elysees with a stunning Olympic time trial. 

He sat on a throne that day and months later he would be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, cheekily addressing Sue Barker as 'Susan'. After Rio, the plan was for a lap of honour. First on the roads of Britain, then on the boards of London and finally Ghent, where he was born.

But it has been a farewell marred by controversy and bitterness, first with the publication of his medical exemptions by Russian computer hackers and then the UK Anti-Doping investigation into a medical package ordered for him by Team Sky at the end of the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine.

His use of triamcinolone, a drug with a history of abuse in cycling, before the 2012 Tour and two other major road races raised serious questions, not least about that aforementioned weight loss when riders have said they used the drug for that precise reason.

Wiggins has said he needed the drug for asthma and allergies he makes no mention of in his 2012 autobiography.

And while Wiggins has not been charged with doping, David Walsh of The Sunday Times, the man who exposed Lance Armstrong, says Wiggins should be stripped of his knighthood and have an asterisk against his Tour victory. Walsh is right. 

After Rio the plan was for one last lap of honour around the UK and Ghent, where he was born

Wiggins has said he needed triamcinolone for asthma and allergy problems

The corticosteroid Wiggins took days before the race, when in his book he says he had never been more healthy, also aids recovery. 

Convicted drug cheat David Millar says it was the most 'potent' drug he ever abused. Armstrong also favoured it ahead of key races.

Had it not been for the Fancy Bears hackers, we would never have known about Wiggins's use of triamcinolone — and the same goes for former team-mates and staff at Team Sky. 

For some the trust between management and riders has been destroyed.

The package, and Team Sky's handling of the story from the moment they were first contacted by Sportsmail in September, has caused further harm to a team Sir David Brailsford dared claim had zero-tolerance towards doping. 

Convicted cheat David Millar says corticosteroid was the most 'potent' drug he ever abused

Millar (second right) and Wiggins (centre) line up at the Olympic road race in 2012

The announcement by Wiggins on Wednesday to retire surprised senior figures in cycling

Wiggins has said very little on the subject but confirmation to a select committee this month that the medication was for him has raised further questions when Sky's explanations have been implausible and incorrect.

Even so, Wiggins's retirement on Wednesday surprised senior figures in cycling. Perhaps that select committee hearing was the final straw. Or maybe it was the lack of public support he has received from the more prominent British riders these past few months. Curiously there was very little said on social media on Wednesday night.

Whatever his reasons, Wiggins leaves cycling in a very different place from where he was in Rio.