UCI President Brian Cookson has described Jonathan Tiernan-Locke’s comments about UK Anti-doping (UKAD) and his doping ban as “putting himself in a deeper and deeper hole.”

Cookson reiterated to Cyclingnews his belief that the Biological Passport is a strong and valid method of catching cheats.

“The Passport is a wonderful tool and the only people that seem to challenge it are the ones that fall foul of it. I’ve seen some very foolish statements recently regarding the Passport. It’s been a great way of helping our sport to clean up the problems of doping. It’s not solved every problem but it’s a wonderful tool,” he said.

Cookson also responded to Tiernan-Locke’s comments from an interview with Cycling news earlier this week, where the now suspended Brit called UKAD a “Mickey Mouse court”.

“I think the things that Jonathan Tiernan-Locke was saying in his recent interview are way out of line,” Cookson told Cyclingnews.

“Mr Tiernan-Locke needs to consider his situation very carefully. He has to look at the terms and conditions of his sanction. I see that he’s talking about coaching again, well I’m afraid that he’s banned from coaching or any event in any capacity that has anything to do with the UCI or any national federation affiliated with the UCI.”
 

“To hear Jonathan say things like the UKAD anti-doping hearing was a Mickey Mouse court, I think that’s very foolish and not a wise thing to have said. I’m giving him a message that’s quite clear; he’s putting himself in a deeper and deeper hole. He would be wise to accept his sanction and if he wants to return in two years then let’s see what happens.”