WASHINGTON, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Athens Olympics cycling champion Tyler Hamilton announced retirement on Friday after having failed a dope test.

Hamilton said in a Friday's teleconference that he tested positive for the steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) at an out-of-competition test in February.

Hamilton said he bought an out-the-counter anti-depression drug which caused the positive result.

The 38-year-old time trial champion at the Olympics in 2004 was banned for two years that same year for blood doping.

According to the World Anti-Doping Code, a second doping offence may lead to a lifetime ban.

"I was desperate. Was it the right decision? Absolutely not. At the time I didn't think about the consequences," said Hamilton.

Hamilton, who said he was first diagnosed with depression in 2003, acknowledged he tested positive for DHEA during an out-of-competition test on Feb. 9 while he was training for the Tour of California.

He denied he used the steroid to enhance his athletic performance, citing, in part, his next-to-last finish in the race.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said despite Hamilton's retirement, it will reveal the cyclist's sanction "in the coming months."

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