Lizzie Armitstead: 'I'll have to accept that people will doubt me forever'
World champion Armitstead says she's struggling to come to terms with the ordeal of the last week's news about her Whereabouts Failures

Lizzie Armitstead says she'll have to come to terms with the fact people will always be sceptical about her career after the news about her Whereabouts Failures, but reaffirmed that she had never cheated in any way.
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.
>>> Lizzie Armitstead will ride in Rio… but unanswered questions remain
"In this situation I'm never going to win. If I win [the road race], people will say it's because of something else," Armitstead said.
"I'm absolutely devastated because people are going to judge me and my family. I will never cheat in any walk of life."
It was revealed earlier this week that the 27-year-old had been cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) of a missed out-of-competition test in August last year, having faced a ban by UK Anti-Doping after she tallied-up three Whereabouts Failures in a year.
But despite being cleared by CAS and providing an explanation of traumatic family circumstances for the third failure, Armitstead says she will have to begin to understand that people will always have doubts about her performance.
"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.
"It has been very emotional - it has been been a rollercoaster that I'm glad to get off. I'm very grateful to be here to race.
"People will think I’m a cheat for the rest of my life and that’s because of not ticking a box on a form, and I don’t mean to make it sound trivial - it’s not – it’s a fight we all have to take responsibility for and as world champion I should take it higher than anyone else.
"But something happened to me and my family that I couldn’t control and that’s more important to me than cycling.”
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
'What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger' - Michael Valgren on getting through injury and returning to racing
Danish rider lifts the lid on his long layoff, missing the Tour de France Grand Départ in Copenhagen and being inspired by Lizzie Deignan and Remco Evenepoel
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Lizzie Deignan to return to racing at Flèche Wallonne, is a possibility for Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Trek-Segafredo finalise roster for Wednesday's Ardennes Classic, with Deignan returning for the first time since 2021
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Lizzie Deignan: Remembering Paris-Roubaix
Ahead of the 2022 edition of Paris-Roubaix Cycling Weekly caught up with Lizzie Deignan to reflect on her victory in the first ever women’s edition of the race.
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
Lizzie Deignan: 'It’s a shame someone can’t see the value of the Women’s Tour'
The Women’s Tour’s only double winner expresses her disappointment after the cancellation of the 2023 race
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Women’s Tour fundraising campaign receives public backing from Alastair Campbell
Tony Blair's former comms director highlights major role played by race in growth of women’s cycling
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Three weeks to save the Women’s Tour as organiser launches crowdfunding campaign
Race is looking for £100,000 to fill funding hole
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
Lizzie Deignan expecting second child, will miss 2022 racing season
Paris-Roubaix winner to return in 2023 and has extended contract to 2024 with Trek-Segafredo
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Six Of The Best Women's WorldTour races of 2021
It’s been another fabulous year of women’s racing, most which we have been able to watch, here are our six favourites
By Owen Rogers • Published