Paula Radcliffe: 'I refuse to be forced into releasing my blood data'

Three-time London Marathon winner Paula Radcliffe has described pressure to release her blood data as 'almost abuse'.

The 41-year-old has been hit with allegations of doping after a parliamentary select committee implied that a previous British marathon winner had cheated.

While Radcliffe's name was not mentioned in the hearing, the long-distance runner opted to release a statement claiming that she has never taken performance-enhancing drugs.

The accusations, which were made following an investigation by The Times, have sparked calls for Radcliffe to publicly release her blood data.

However, the marathon world-record holder has claimed that she will not do so in order to "protect a lot of other innocent athletes".

"I don't need to [release my data], I'm clean," Radcliffe told BBC Sport. "I'm not being forced and almost abused into giving a knee-jerk reaction to something that goes against other people, who I trust."

The World Anti-Doping Agency has stated that releasing blood data could be misinterpreted.