The 32-year-old looked set to miss the Games after he was given a 16-month ban after a hearing in front of a three-member panel of the American Arbitration Association North American Court of Arbitration for Sport (AAA) in December.

It followed Lea providing an adverse analytical finding for noroxycodone, a metabolite of oxycodone, to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) during the American Elite and Junior Track National Championships.

Lea had claimed a gold medal in the points race at the Championships, which were held from August 3 to 8.

Having received the suspension, the two-time Olympian admitted to taking the medication Percocet, which contains the banned substance, on August 7.

Lea stated it had been “prescribed by a doctor to help me manage pain and sleep while traveling for competition” and admitted to failing to check the medication against the prohibited list.

Percocet is not banned when used out of competition, but is banned in-competition, with Lea stating he would appeal the suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

In a statement USADA confirmed that the suspension has now been reduced following the CAS appeal.

“The CAS Panel confirmed Lea’s anti-doping rule violation while shortening his period of ineligibility from 16 months to six months,” the statement read.

“The CAS Panel also upheld the start date for Lea’s period of ineligibility, confirming that his sanction should commence from September 10, 2015, the date on which he accepted his provisional suspension.

“As a consequence of the CAS Panel decision, Lea will be eligible to compete again on March 10, 2016.

“Further, as a result of the doping violation, Lea has also been disqualified from all competitive results achieved on August 8, 2015 at the Elite & Junior Track National Championships and on  subsequent to the date in which the provisional sanction was accepted, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes.”

The decision rules Lea out of competing in the International Cycling Union (UCI) World Track Cycling Championships, which are taking place from March 2 to 6 in London.

However, the reduction will allow Lea to target a third consecutive appearance at the Olympic Games.

“As hard as it is to sit on the sidelines while my peers are competing, I recognise that a rule was broken and a price must be paid,” Lea said in a statement on his blog.

“I maintain full responsibility for my actions and I accept the punishment as handed down by the CAS.

“Looking ahead, I am thankful that the big goal of qualifying for my third US Olympic Team and competing for a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games is still very much in play.”