Brailsford's comments come following a decision by the UCI to grant Astana, the team of Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali, a WorldTour licence for the 2015 season, despite several positive tests in recent months.

"The UCI governs this sport, so they need to deliver," the Briton, who masterminded his country's recent Olympic success in the sport before taking up the Team Sky post, told the BBC.

"Great leaders don't find excuses why they can't do something.

"Sometimes you've got to get over obstacles and find ways of doing things to get to a new place.

"If you're in charge, you have to have rules and the leadership skills to deliver a credible sport."

Brailsford's comments will come as a blow to his fellow Briton Brian Cookson, whose campaign to become UCI President in 2013 promised a zero tolerance approach, with stronger measures to combat doping with the aim of restoring credibility in the sport.

The UCI had called in their Licence Commission to review Astana's management and anti-doping policies, following five positive tests in three months coming from Astana's WorldTour and continental teams, including brothers Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy who tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO), and trainee Ilya Davidenok, who failed for anabolic steroids.

Brailsford's comments will come as a blow to UCI President Brain Cookson, whom Brailsford previously worked under at British Cycling ©Getty Images



Following the decision the UCI maintained that if further doping tests from the team occurred during the season that Astanta's licence could still be withdrawn, with Cookson stating that Astana can be "considered very much to be on probation".

The decision also required Astana to become one of eight teams volunteering to new "internal operational requirements" aimed at ensuring riders are "properly supported and supervise", for the next two years, before the rules become compulsory for all World Tour teams from 2017.

Despite the measures Brailsford, whose team produced the Tour de France winners in 2012 and 2013, told the BBC that he wanted the UCI to be stricter on doping stating "If we want to be the best team in a certain sport, you need that sport to be credible".

"We'll do our bit but we want everyone else to do their bit, particularly those who govern the sport.

"I don't think you can go at a lazy pace with these things.

"You've got to go for it."

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