The three-time Olympic medallist and reigning overall World Cup champion tested positive for banned anabolic steroid clostebol last month, but claimed to have used the product inadvertently via a sun cream she was given by her doctor.

She has been provisionally suspended as an investigation continues.

The 28-year-old claimed the two-weeks since the result was disclosed have been "really tough" before revealing how she has considered quitting the sport.

It comes as figures including International Ski Federation (FIS) President Gian-Franco Kasper have cast doubt on her version of events and suggested that, if found guilty, they may intervene to push for a longer ban.

Johaug gave a series of one-on-one interviews with the Norwegian media today in a bid to convince people of her innocence.

"The 14 days after the press conference [at which the result was announced] has been demanding," she told the Norwegian News Agency.

"It is very strange that people do not believe in what I have said, because I just have been very open and honest and told the whole story.

"People believe what they want. 

"The [my version] is true. 

"I get very sad when people do not believe it."

She added to NRK: "To be honest, the days have been very up and down and I've had days where I have said this I can not bear.

"To be honest, the days have been very up and down and I've had days where I have said 'this I cannot bear'. 

"But then there are so deep down in my heart this is it I burn and I will return."

Kasper has been criticised for his opinion, but others have voiced similar concerns.

This was particularly the case after Johaug's lawyer Christian B. Hjort told Aftenposten that the skier had not been drug tested for 129 days before the September 16 sample.

WADA director general Harri Syväsalmi joined the critical voices when claiming that the Norwegian skiing team are operating in a "grey area".

Reigning male World Cup champion Martin Johnsrud Sundby was also handed a two-month ban and stripped of his 2014-15 World Cup title earlier this year following two failed tests for asthma medication salbutamol.

Sundby claimed to have received the wrong advice from a doctor on what dosage he should take and was initially cleared of any wrongdoing by an FIS tribunal, only for WADA to successfully appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

He was consequently banned from July until September 11, with Russian rival Evgeniy Belov claiming the process was deliberately slowed in order to ensure he was only banned during the off-season.