Tour de France star David Millar has offered his backing to cycling's anti-doping summit even though he cannot attend in person.

The 30-year-old was invited to the Paris summit organised by French minister of sport Roselyne Bachelot, which features representatives of the International Cycling Union, Tour de France organisers ASO and the World Anti-Doping Authority.

Millar, who admitted to using EPO three years ago when he was arrested by French police, has become a strident anti-doping campaigner.

However, he had to decline the invitation because of family commitments.

He said: "Despite recent press reports of my attendance at the anti-doping summit held in Paris yesterday and today I will not be present at the summit and informed the organisers of this when I received my invitation two weeks ago.

"I am currently in Malaysia visiting my father, a vacation I have had booked for five months and, as it is the only time in the year I can see him, I was reluctant to cancel the trip.

"This does not in any way mean I do not support the summit, I regret not being able to attend and whole-heartedly support the French minister of sport in her initiative and think these are the steps that need to be taken to help cycling move forward.

"I think the summit represents real progress for the sport and offers a great opportunity for us to make advances in the fight against doping as a united force.

"I look forward to hearing of the results of this seminar and believe that everybody involved should for once see this as an opportunity to make progress and not point blame."

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