Team Sky Rider Jonathan Tiernan-Locke looks set to face disciplinary proceedings after an anti-doping violation was found in his biological passport. The 28-year-old 2012 Tour of Britain winner pulled out of the 2013 World Championships in September when the International Cycling Union (UCI) asked him to explain the anomaly and today Team Sky issued this press statement:
‘Team Sky notes that Jonathan Tiernan-Locke has been charged with a violation of the UCI anti-doping rules. We have been informed that he intends to defend himself against that charge… Jonathan Tiernan-Locke will not ride for Team Sky or take part in any team activities – including training camps and all team duties – until a decision is made in this disciplinary hearing process. We understand that the violation was highlighted by an anomaly in his Biological Passport, in a reading taken before he signed for this team. There are no doubts about his approach or performance in Team Sky.’ The statement added: ‘This is a team that trains, races and wins clean.’
The Devon-born rider strenuously denies any wrong-doing, but Cyclo can’t help but think he may now regret his team profile page response to the question: ‘Childhood Hero?’ – ‘I looked up to Lance Armstrong when I was a kid.’
