While waiting for the UCI to reach a decision whether the international union will open a doping case for irregular values in his biological passport, Jonathan Tiernan-Locke has started his training for the 2014 season. Having explained his case, he is confident that he will be acquitted of any wrongdoing.

Just a few days before the world championships road race, it was announced that Jonathan Tiernan-Locke had been withdrawn from the British team. It later emerged that the Brit had been asked by the UCI to clarify irregular values that had been registered in his biological passport.

The suspect values date back to September 2012 when he won the Tour of Britain while riding for the continental Endura Racing team and so have nothing to do with his time at his current Sky team. However, the case forced him to put a premature end to his season while he concentrated on explaining the reasons to the international union within 20 days.

An extension was later given but now Tiernan-Locke confirms that he has indeed given his explanation and is now waiting for a decision. A panel of experts convened by the union will determine whether there is sufficient basis to open a case for an anti-doping rule violation.

While waiting for the decision, Tiernan-Locke has started his training for the 2014 season, hoping that he will acquitted quickly and able to resume his career at Sky.

“Things are going well, I'm back training and in my routine again,” he told Ciclismo Internacional. “I sent my information to the UCI several weeks ago and I was able to give my explanations, so now I just have to wait.

“I wasn’t told how long the process will take so for now I forget the subject and go on with my life normally. I’m therefore preparing for next season.”

Tiernan-Locke burst onto the scene in 2012 when he won the Tour Mediteraneen, Tour du Haut Var and the Tour of Britain while riding at continental level and went on to finish in the top 20 at the world championships. The results earned him a contract with Sky but he has been fatigued during most of the season and has been far from the form that he showed one year ago.

If he is acquitted, he will ride for Sky in 2014, having originally signed a two-year contract with the team.