Belgian rider Femke van den Driessche appears to have conceded defeat in her bid to clear her name in the first case of motorised doping in cycling.

A bike used by Van den Driessche and allegedly containing a motor was confiscated at January's UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Belgium. The 19-year-old was a competitor in the women's under-23 race and maintains the bike belonged to an acquaintance.

But she now says she has retired from cyclo-cross and will not contest the UCI independent disciplinary hearing scheduled for this month. Belgian media reported it is slated to take place on Tuesday.

Van den Driessche said in a statement, published by Het Nieuwsblad: "After consulting with my lawyers and my family, I have decided to discontinue my defence at the hearing in Aigle (the UCI's headquarters in Switzerland).

"I have decided for myself to stop cyclo-cross. The costs of the meeting in Switzerland will be too high for me. An acquittal is impossible - the bike was in my pit zone.

"I thank all the people who supported me and still support - my lawyers, friends and supporters.

"I want to continue my life in peace and serenity and hope that everyone will have some understanding for this and will respect this."

UCI president Brian Cookson said earlier in March that the world governing body would request the toughest possible sanctions.

Regulations, recently strengthened, state that a rider is given a minimum suspension of six months and a fine of up to 200,000 Swiss Francs (GBP141,000) for an offence of "technological fraud", while coaches, mechanics and other officials could also be sanctioned.

Bikes have been scanned by the UCI at major competitions across all disciplines, including the Tour de France, in recent years after rumour and speculation regarding motors hidden in frames.

There were 274 bikes scanned at the Track Cycling World Championships in London earlier in March.