Earlier this year Stuart O'Grady brought his long career to an end and a few days later it was revealed that he had returned a suspicious test for EPO at the 1998 Tour de France. Back in Australia, the veteran is keen to point out that he only used doping once and that his wins in the Paris-Roubaix and the Track World Championships will stand the test of time.

Stuart O'Grady's career came to abrupt end earlier this year when he suddenly announced his retirement shortly after the conclusion of the Tour de France. Having originally extended his contract with the idea of ending his time as a cyclist at the 2014 edition of La Grande Boucle, he suddenly changed his mind and announced his retirement with immediate effect.

It didn't take long for the real reason for his changed mind to come out. When a French senate investigation presented its findings, it was announced that O'Grady was one of several riders to have returned a suspicious test for EPO at the 1998 Tour de France and the Australian admitted to his wrongdoings. However, he was keen to stress that he had only used doping once, in the build-up to the 1998 race where he won a stage and wore the yellow jersey.

Now back in Australia, O'Grady has reiterated that stance and claimed that all his other major results will stand the test of time.

"I can comfortably sit back and I know that no one can come along and say I have a positive test anywhere else. In 100 years' time my grandkids won't be hearing any new stories about my racing past," O'Grady is reported to have said in Green, Gold & Bold: Australia at the 100th Tour de France, written by former Olympic cyclist and now journalist John Trevorrow and his co-writer Ron Reed. The extract was published by Sydney Morning Herald.

O'Grady's other major results include a win in the 2007 Paris-Roubaix and an madison gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Sydney.

"I won Paris-Roubaix and my Olympic gold medal plus all my other Tour de France successes clean," he said. "I am happy for all my tests ever taken after 1998 to be re-tested. Any time."

O'Grady started 17 consecutive Tours de France and only failed to finish the 2000 edition of the race.