The sports law court declared it void after ruling UKAD’s doping control officer (DCO) had failed to follow procedure.
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Luckily for Armitstead CAS struck off last year’s mix-up in Sweden, freeing her for Rio – a decision that produced some bemusement in the cycling world and beyond.
The world champion was talking to the BBC in Rio ahead of this weekend’s Olympic road race, where she’ll aim to take gold, but said the result won’t do anything to change people’s opinions and that she remains “devastated” by events since Monday.
“I’m not at the point of accepting it yet – but I will have to come to the point of accepting that people will doubt me forever”, she said.
“I am pleased that CAS has accepted my position, having provided detailed information demonstrating the situation around my strikes”, she said in her statement. If I win the race people are going to say it’s because of something else.
“If I lose the race people will say it’s another reason.I’m not at the point of accepting it yet”.
Armitstead acknowledged fault in the other two missed tests.
Armitstead was charged by UKAD with three whereabouts failures on July 11, leading to a suspension, pending disciplinary action.
A second violation in October a year ago, caused by a filing failure, she admits was her fault.
The controversy that has erupted over her three missed drugs tests was not mentioned.
Asked if she was expecting animosity from fellow riders, she added: “I have had animosity from so many corners at the moment and, if I took everything personally, I would break and I can’t allow myself to do that”.
“It (Sunday’s race) is about me, my family and my bike race”.
The second strike, relating to an inconsistency on a form over her whereabouts, was a “stupid mistake” which came shortly after she became world champion previous year.
“Integrity is something I strive for in every part of my life”.
That is why, after being embroiled in an anti-doping saga days before one of the biggest races of her life, the British world champion will be happy to suffer in the saddle. I’ve trained very hard and not let it slip.
“It has been very emotional – it has been been a rollercoaster that I’m glad to get off”.
“I feel extremely guilty that I’ve had to put team-mates through extra media questions”.
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“I won’t try to dominate and dictate the race, but there are sections where I can try to leave my rivals on the back foot”. “I will hold my head high in Rio and do my best for Great Britain”, Armitstead wrote.
