The revelation is a potential embarrassment to newly elected UCI President Brian Cookson, who main message during his successful campaign was a strong anti-drugs stance based partly upon the lack of positive tests involving British riders as the country has risen to become a cycling superpower.

The Sunday Times revealed that 28-year-old the Team Sky rider, winner of last year's Tour of Britain, has been asked by the UCI to explain suspect blood values.

Tiernan-Locke had pulled out of Britain's team for today's men's race in the World Road Race Championships here on Thursday (September 26), blaming a lack of form.

Tiernan-Locke joined Team Sky at the end of last season after also winning the Tour Méditerranéen and Tour du Haut Var and finishing 19th in the World Championships.

The suspect blood levels reportedly date back to September 2012, when he rode for Endura Racing, before joining Team Sky, who have a zero tolerance policy to drugs.

He has been given three weeks by the UCI to provide an explanation.

Jonathan Tiernan-Locke signed for Team Sky after winning last year's Tour of Britain

"Team Sky has been informed by Jonathan Tiernan-Locke that the UCI has notified him of a potential discrepancy in his biological passport data," said Team Sky in a statement.

"He has withdrawn from racing whilst his response to the UCI is prepared then considered by the UCI.

"We have no doubts over his performance, behaviour or tests at Team Sky and understand any anomaly is in readings taken before he joined the team.

"Team Sky has tried to respect what should be a confidential process, allowing the rider to explain in private, without prejudice, and the anti-doping authorities to do their valuable job.

"At this stage in the ongoing process we will not add any further detail."

But the fact doubt has been cast over any British rider so soon after Cookson, the former President of British Cycling, ousted Ireland's Pat McQuaid as head of the world governing body is unfortunate timing.

"I think this absolutely underlines why anti-doping has got to be independent from the UCI and I certainly won't be interfering in this process at all," Cookson told BBC Radio 5.

"I wouldn't have done when I was British Cycling President and I won't now I'm UCI President.

"It's important that it is handled properly and with integrity under the processes that are laid down.

"I am concerned that it's leaked because I don't think this information should be in the public domain while someone is being questioned, that's not the same at all as them being guilty."

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