After buying Team Saxo-Tinkoff from Bjarne Riis and appointing the Dane as general manager on a three-year contract, Oleg Tinkov has expressed his full confidence in his team leader despite his involvement in a Danish anti-doping investigation. He intends to leave all sporting decisions to Riis and will not dictate him to sign any specific riders.

Today Oleg Tinkov realized his dream of become owner of cycling's major teams when he bought Team Saxo-Tinkoff from Bjarne Riis. While the Russian will now take care of the business behind the team, he has hired Riis to work as a general manager for the next three years, leaving all sporting decisions to the Dane.

The decision is a controversial one as Riis is currently involved in an investigation carried out by the Danish anti-doping investigation. Based on allegations made by Michael Rasmussen, the investigation is rumoured to be centered around Riis and his work as a manager of the major Danish team.

On the press conference where the purchase of the team was announced, Riis denied that the investigation had played any role in his decision to sell the team. Nonetheless, Tinkov may have to deal with its conclusion when the report is made public, probably in January, as it is rumoured to contain damning evidence against Riis.

For now, Tinkov makes it clear that he has no reason to have doubts about Riis and still has full confidence in his new general manager.

"It's difficult to act on speculation," he said. "I don't know what is going on. Once we have the documents, we have to deal with it, we are a serious company. If there is a decision, we have to follow it. Now I know nothing about it. It's not my business. I believe in Bjarne. I hope that nothing happens. If anything happens, it is sad but right now I have no worries. I am fully committed to Bjarne."

When Tinkov started as a co-sponsor of the team in 2012, he was keen to stress that he regarded Riis as the best manager in the world. Their relationship became strained during the Tour de France when Tinkov publicly criticized star rider Alberto Contador and Tinkov decided not to renew his contract.

Time appears to have healed the wounds and at today's press conference, Tinkov was keen to stress that he still regards Riis as the best in the business. People have speculated that Tinkov wants to be more involved in the sporting aspects but he intends to leave all major decisions about rider recruitment and roster selections to his manager.

"It's very simple," he said. "Not much is going to change. Bjarne will be running the sport aspects. He's chosen the riders and the rosters for each race. Nothing changes. I am not going to dictate him to buy any riders, it's up to him. It would be stupid of me to work with the best sports manager in the world and not listen to him. I could run this team but I don't have time. I'm a businessman. I will be at some races but Bjarne runs the team."

Tinkov was also keen to point out that the team will not be more Russian in the future.

"I will confirm that this is not a Danish team, a Russian team, a Spanish team or an Italian team," he said. "This is a global and international team. I don't believe in national teams. Some countries try to build national teams. It could work. It's good for the continental teams and the youth teams. But once we are talking about the top level, I don't believe in them. We look at the results. Is it a good rider? If he is good, we sign him."

With Tinkov as new owner of the team, it will have more financial horsepower that could allow them to reinforce their squad. While there will be limited opportunities for the 2014 season, Tinkov confirms that he plans to strengthen the team, both when it comes to the roster and what surrounds it.

"Money is not everything but it means a lot," he said. "We will buy more riders, more stars. We don't have to be crazy about it. 2014 is done but it's a long-term project. In 2015 and 2016, we will buy more riders.

"We will be much more scientific," he added. "What is important today is diet and nutrition programs, recovery. We still have rival teams that are ahead. We have to catch up with them. These days I strongly believe that doping is over. I truly believe there is no issues about that now. It's over. Cycling has changed.

"Tinkoff-Saxo will be a new face of cycling. I have zero-tolerance to doping. I think nutrition programs, recovery, discipline and good training is what works in cycling today. With money you can hire better scientists and better coaches, maybe from other endurance sports, psychologists and so on. Cycling becomes more and more scientific. This will significantly improve the results. The general classification is all about seconds. We need to invest in it. It is not going to happen overnight but in 2-3-4 years, I believe we will be the best team in the world. We will have a structure that we can be proud of."

At the moment the team has confirmed 24 riders for next season.