The International Cycling Union president Pat McQuaid insists the organisation has "nothing to hide" over a donation made by Lance Armstrong.
The UCI has admitted accepting a donation of more than £62,000 from Armstrong in 2002, but has strongly denied that it was connected to any cover-up of a positive test.
Armstrong was on Monday banned for life and stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after the UCI accepted the findings of a 1000-page report by the United States Anti-doping Agency.
"UCI has nothing to hide in responding to the USADA report," McQuaid said.
"Don't try to make the connection between the suspicious test and the donation. There were no positive tests from him.
"There is no connection between the donation given to the UCI and a test being covered up because there was no test covered up.
"It's certainly not a resignation issue. It would be better if we hadn't done it, and if we were to do it in the future, we would do it in a different way."
McQuaid insisted he is not prepared to relinquish his post as president and defended his predecessor Hein Verbruggen, who was in charge during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Briton David Millar is among those to call for the resignation of Verbruggen, who has made a series of comments appearing to defend Armstrong.
Irishman McQuaid added: "Cycling has come a long way. I have no intention as resigning as president of the UCI.
On Verbruggen, now honorary president of the UCI, McQuaid told Sky Sports News: "First of all he never said there was no evidence against Lance Armstrong; he said Lance Armstrong had never tested positive, and that's correct.
"There's nothing in the USADA report that shows that Mr Verbruggen did anything untoward or anything wrong, so therefore there's no reason why he should go."
Armstrong lost the support of another major sponsor earlier on Monday.
Oakley have followed in the footsteps of Nike, Trek and Anheuser-Busch, brewers of Budweiser, who have all withdrawn their support for Armstrong following the doping revelations.
An Oakley statement read: "Based on UCI's decision today and the overwhelming evidence that USADA presented, Oakley has severed its long-standing relationship with Lance Armstrong, effective immediately.
"When Lance joined our family many years ago, he was a symbol of possibility. We are deeply saddened by the outcome, but look forward with hope to athletes and teams of the future who will rekindle that inspiration by racing clean, fair and honest.
"We believe the LIVESTRONG Foundation has been a positive force in the lives of many affected by cancer and, at this time, Oakley will continue to support its noble goals."
Armstrong has stepped down from his position as chairman of his cancer charity.
