Team Sky's British cyclist Mark Cavendish blames a "genuine" administrative error for missing an out-of-competition drug test in April last year - while riding for Team HTC.

The 26-year-old world road race champion was filming for BBC television in Sicily ahead of the Giro d'Italia when he was supposed to take the test.

Cavendish released a statement Friday saying, "It was a simple, genuine admin error."

He added: "Of course, I totally understand the importance of testing in sport ... it's my job to make sure that I don't miss another."

Cavendish is one of cycling's leading sprinters, winning five stages at last year's Tour de France. He won the green jersey, given to the race's overall leading points scorer.