Armitstead explains missed drug tests ahead of Olympics

Great Britain's world cycling road race champion Lizzie Armitstead said on Wednesday that she had missed a pre-Olympics drugs test due to "incredibly difficult" family circumstances.

Britain's Elizabeth Armitstead holds her silver medal during the victory ceremony for the women's cycling road race at the London 2012 Olympic Games July 29, 2012. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) provisionally suspended Armitstead on July 11 after failing to explain why she had missed her three drugs tests within a 12-month period.

But at a Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) appeal, she successfully argued the first test should be declared void, clearing the 27-year-old to race at the Olympics.

Armitstead says she did contest the first strike, in Sweden, with a written explanation - but it was not accepted and she flew to the United States the following day for a competition.

Armistead said her second strike of October 2015 was a "filing failure" rather than a missed test, relating to an inconsistency on a form over her whereabouts.

"This was an honest mistake," she said.

Armitstead missed the third test, on June 9 this year, due to a serious family illness and said in a statement posted on Twitter: "My personal family circumstances at the time of the test were incredibly difficult.

"In my defence, I was dealing with a traumatic time and I forgot to change a box on a form. I am not a robot, I am a member of a family -- my commitment to them comes over and above my commitment to cycling."

"I love sport and the values it represents. It hurts me to consider anybody questioning my performances,” she added.

"I am sorry for causing anyone to lose faith in sport. I am an example of what hard work and dedication can achieve. I hate dopers and what they have done to sport."

She concluded her declaration by saying she was truly sorry for causing anyone to lose faith in sport.

"To any of the ‘Twitter Army’ reading this, do yourself a favour and go for a bike ride. It’s the most beautiful thing you can do to clear your mind."

Armitstead is one of the favourites to win gold in the women's road race in Rio on Sunday. She won silver in the event in London four years ago.