World cycling's governing body has started disciplinary proceedings against Team Sky rider Jonathan Tiernan-Locke for a doping violation, the UCI said on Tuesday. "The analysis of the biological passport of Mr Jonathan Tiernan-Locke by the Experts Panel has demonstrated an anti-doping rule violation (use of prohibited substances and/or methods)," the UCI said in a statement. In line with UCI anti-doping rules, the governing body said it had asked British Cycling to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the rider. It declined to comment further. In September, Team Sky announced that Tiernan-Locke faced an investigation by the UCI over unexplained discrepancies in his biological passport and had withdrawn from racing. The 28-year-old joined Sky in January after winning last year's Tour of Britain. The UCI uses biological passports to monitor riders' blood readings for signs of doping offences. Sky said the data being assessed came from Tiernan-Locke's time with former team Endura. Source: AFP