Ohuruogu handed ban

She now also faces being banned from competing at future Olympic Games for Great Britain depending on the decision of the British Olympic Association.

"I am utterly devastated and completely heartbroken by the decision to exclude me from competing," said Ohuruogu, also adding that she would now be "forced to rationally consider my athletics future in the light of today's decision."

The International Association of Athletics Federations' rules on drug testing states that all athletes should let the testers know of their whereabouts for one hour a day, five days a week.

Ohuruogu's first missed test was on 12 October last year, with the final no-show coming just before last month's European Championships.

She blamed the vital third missed test on a change to her training schedule.

The athlete was banned by an independent disciplinary committee who admitted that it was banning her in spite of thinking she had "no intention of infringing the anti-doping rules."

"This is undoubtedly a very harsh sanction for the minor degree of fault attributed to a young athlete," said a statement released by the committee.

But John Scott - UK Sport's director of drug free sport - has said that he believes the punishment to be entirely justified.

"The sanction is in line with that set out within the IAAF's rules and reflects the seriousness of the offence.

"It sends out a strong signal to all athletes that making themselves available to all athletes that making themselves available for testing is a key requirement on them, and they must ensure they deliver on their responsibilities."

Ohoruoghu has the right to appeal to the British Olympic Association and can also take the case to the international Court for Arbitration in Sport.