Lizzie Armitstead, who was in danger of missing the Olympic Games in Rio after being suspended by UK Anti-Doping for allegedly missing three tests, has had the decision unanimously overturned by the court of arbitration for sport.
The 27-year-old, one of the favourites to win gold in Sunday’s road race, had “whereabouts” failures in August and October 2015, plus June of this year, but a legal team, funded by British Cycling, had the first test struck off the record by arguing a testing official was at fault.
“The ruling relates to a Ukad anti-doping test which was asserted to have been attempted on Thursday 20 August, 2015, whilst Armitstead was staying at the team hotel, during the UCI Women’s Road World Cup in Sweden,” a statement released on behalf of the cyclist said.
It is understood the official was refused Armitstead’s room number at the hotel’s reception and attempted to call the world champion but her phone was silent as she was sleeping. That was sufficient evidence for Cas, who “promptly and unanimously cleared Armitstead of the asserted missed test”.
The 27-year-old, one of the favourites to win gold in Sunday’s road race, had “whereabouts” failures in August and October 2015, plus June of this year, but a legal team, funded by British Cycling, had the first test struck off the record by arguing a testing official was at fault.
“The ruling relates to a Ukad anti-doping test which was asserted to have been attempted on Thursday 20 August, 2015, whilst Armitstead was staying at the team hotel, during the UCI Women’s Road World Cup in Sweden,” a statement released on behalf of the cyclist said.
It is understood the official was refused Armitstead’s room number at the hotel’s reception and attempted to call the world champion but her phone was silent as she was sleeping. That was sufficient evidence for Cas, who “promptly and unanimously cleared Armitstead of the asserted missed test”.