Millar makes himself available for Olympic selection

David Millar and Mark Cavendish, Tour of Oman 2012, stage one

published 1 June 2012

David Millar (Garmin-Barracuda) has made himself available for selection for this year's Olympic Games following the overturning of his lifetime Olympic ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April.

Subject to selection, the 35 year old Scot could now figure in Team GB's plans for both the road race and the time trial this summer.

"I'm available," Millar told The Times newspaper. "I spent a lot of time thinking about it, but I've concluded that if I can be of benefit to the team, I would be happy to help."

Millar had been subject to a lifetime Olympic ban by the British Olympic Association (BOA) after he admitted doping and served a two year suspension between 2004 and 2006.

However the BOA bye-law which banned him was ruled unlawful by the CAS in April, putting Millar in the frame for selection.

He had initially remained coy over whether he would put his name in the hat for the Olympic road events given the controversy surrounding whether former drugs cheats should represent Great Britain. Sir Chris Hoy was amongst those who spoke out in defence of the BOA's bye-law.

Millar, who sits on the Athlete's Commission for the World Anti-Doping Authority (Wada), added, "I have spent time fighting the idea of lifetime bans for a first offence, and it gets confusing if I don't make myself available."

He can now reprise the support role for Cavendish that he rode at the World Championships road race in Copenhagen last year, a role which earnt him the praise of the Manxman. He could also fill one of Great Britain's two places in the time trial event alongside Bradley Wiggins.

Selectors at British Cycling have until June 8 to decide on the teams for the Olympic road race events with the squads to be announced on June 11.

Millar himself will line up next at the Criterium du Dauphine race which begins this Sunday with a 5.7km prologue in Grenoble.