Egan Bernal believes his reputation has been damaged by the recent string of doping cases in Colombia, but insists that his country is "improving" when it comes to fighting for clean cycling.

Bernal made headlines in Colombia a few weeks ago when comments he made in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde were read as criticism of the Colombian Cycling Federation and its anti-doping efforts.

"I can't say whether it was one or a hundred times," Bernal replied; when asked if it was closer to a hundred, he replied: "I said: 'I'm not sure.

In Colombia, Bernal was widely quoted as saying: "A reporter for Le Monde attributed it to a mistranslation by a publisher.

Last week, when interviewed by Cycling News, Bernal regretted causing the controversy and claimed that his words were taken out of context.

"It appeared that I was criticizing the federation, but I wasn't, the federation is doing a good job.

While the past decade has seen a wave of Colombian success on the world stage, with Bernal becoming the first Colombian to win this year's Tour de France, the country has also grappled with doping issues. Currently, 20 Colombians have been banned or provisionally suspended, more than any other country, and Colombia's anti-doping laboratory was discredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency in February 2017 and remains closed.

This year, Tour de France stage winner Jarlinson Pantano tested positive for EPO, and Manzana Postobon, a team that had been vocal in its anti-doping stance, tested positive for EPO by Wilmar Paredes and bordenone by Juan Jose Amador. The team disbanded in May after Wilmar Paredes tested positive for EPO and Juan Jose Amador tested positive for bordenone. Alexis Camacho and former Tinkoff Saxo driver Edward Beltran tested positive on the national circuit last month; two years ago, the country's leading race was hit by a string of eight positive CERA tests.

"It's difficult for us. Our image as Colombians has been affected by this event," Bernal told Cycling News.

However, the 22-year-old Team Ineos rider insisted that the country is moving in the right direction and that the national cycling federation is doing all it can to combat doping.

"Things are improving. There are still doping cases and positive tests, but not only in Colombia, but in many other places," Bernal told Cycling News.

"If there are positive tests in Colombia, it is because anti-doping tests are in place. There is nothing more the federation can do.

"Of course, we have to improve. We all have to improve something. I have to improve as a rider. The federation has to improve, but everyone has to improve something."

Bernal pointed to the financial constraints faced by the Colombian authorities, arguing that the money invested at the government level is not comparable to that of major European cycling and sporting nations. In response to the furor caused by Bernal's comments in Le Monde, Mauricio Vargas, the new president of the Colombian Cycling Federation, claimed that $300 million had been spent on sending samples to the US and Canada since the laboratory was closed.

"You have to understand that this is Colombia. We are not a third world country, but we don't have the budget of countries like France, Spain, or Italy. You can't compare," Bernal said.

"They may be a rich federation in terms of the quality of their players, but they spend a lot of money on testing. I think they are doing what they can within their budget."

Bernal also highlighted the difference between European-based World Tour pros like himself and riders competing on the national circuits in Colombia and South America. He and his peers live, train, and race at a higher level in Europe and are inspected more regularly, while also participating in the Biological Passport Program.

"It may be a little different for us because we are inspected more in Europe, but we still have inspections in Colombia," Bernal said.

"It is normal for a Tour de France winner to be inspected more than the average Colombian rider. The federation can't inspect every rider every day, but I think they do a good job with the resources they have."

"Young riders like Sergio Iguita, Ivan Sosa and myself have a different mentality. Maybe those who are trying to go positive have a different mindset."