Brian Cookson, former head of British Cycling, told UK Anti-Doping after it was reported that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had authorized British Cycling to investigate a 2010 rider test that found traces of nandrolone. Doping (UKAD) to launch an investigation into the incident, he told Cyclingnews, "I have no recollection" of the events that led to the investigation.

Nandrolone levels were below the limit needed to trigger a positive test, but led to UKAD informing British Cycling at the time.

WADA is investigating why UKAD allowed British Cycling to initiate an internal testing program to determine why the banned substance was found in the bodies of track athletes, and why UKAD did not follow up on this matter.

UKAD confirmed that British Cycling has no documentation or results of their own investigation; when contacted by Cyclingnews, WADA confirmed that they are investigating the matter.

"Some of the information provided is of serious concern to WADA," a spokesman said.

"We have asked our independent Intelligence and Investigations Unit to investigate this matter and to contact UKAD for further information."

Cookson was the head of British cycling from 1997-2013. During this period, Great Britain was dominant in track racing, winning 19 Olympic gold medals. He later became president of the UCI and campaigned to improve cycling's image in the wake of the Lance Armstrong and US Postal debacle.

News of the Nandrolone affair and subsequent involvement of British Cycling and WADA was reported by the Mail on Sunday, and the paper's main story was written by Dave Brailsford, Shane Sutton, Steve Peters, Richard Freeman's management team of British Cycling at the time was central to the success generated by the trucks.

Cookson was in his last term as president of the organization when British Cycling launched an internal investigation into the use of a private lab for a series of screening tests on athletes, but he had no recollection of the Nandrolone case or British Cycling's funding of a third party testing lab He told Cyclingnews that he had no recollection of spending any money on the Nandrolone case or British Cycling's use of a third-party testing lab. Cookson, who is now retired from sports governance, admits that he would cooperate if approached by WADA.

"I do not remember anything about this latest matter and would be willing to cooperate with any investigation by WADA, UKAD or any other appropriate body. Given that such an investigation is ongoing, I will refrain from commenting further at this stage."

Cyclingnews reached out to both Brailsford and Sutton for comment, but neither responded.

UKAD responded to the BBC as follows: quantities of "threshold substances" are sometimes reported by laboratories, but they turn out to be below the thresholds that require investigation. These are trace amounts and may be naturally present in the body.

"According to WADA guidance, these trace findings can be used to determine who will be tested in the future and when, but do not automatically lead to an investigation."

"We operate within the framework of WADA and if WADA requests further information regarding our activities We are always willing to cooperate with WADA should they ask for further information regarding our activities."

"We are not a party to any investigation, and we are not a party to any investigation.

Nicole Sapstead, CEO and then Director of Operations at UKAD, said in a statement: "We refute any suggestion that talking to NGBs about samples containing trace amounts of threshold substances is inappropriate behavior."

UKAD's CEO, Nicole Sapstead, said in a statement that "UKAD is committed to working with NGBs to ensure that they are aware of the risks associated with the use of these substances.

UKAD also confirmed that it has no record of results from private drug tests conducted.

Last week, Cyclingnews revealed that UKAD did not contact some potential witnesses after the doping allegations against Shane Sutton were raised. Sutton vehemently denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, the UCI confirmed to Cyclingnews that it has already contacted WADA and offered its cooperation in the investigation.

"The International Cycling Union (UCI) is aware of this matter due to recent media reports and has already offered its cooperation to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) The UCI is in no position to comment further at this stage."