Team Sky sporting director Sean Yates has announced his retirement from cycling.
The 52-year-old, who had been with Sky since 2010, was instrumental in Bradley Wiggins's Tour de France triumph in July.
Sky have insisted that Yates's decision to step aside has nothing to do with the sport's recent doping scandal.
Yates added: "I realise the timing of my retirement will lead to speculation but I can walk away with my head high knowing I have done nothing wrong."
Yates is the fourth key figure - after Bobby Julich, Steven de Jongh and Michael Barry - to leave Sky since September.
