The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Stripped medal could slalom way to Baxter
A f resh bid could be launched to give Britain’s first medallist at the Winter Olympics his title back, the Press and Journal can reveal.
Alain Baxter said last night it would be “amazing” to finally be reunited with his bronze medal 14 years on – and revealed that he was contemplating trying again to turn his dream into a reality.
North MP Drew Hendry yesterday wrote to Olympic chiefs and the UK Government urging them to reopen his case and finally deliver “justice” to the skier known as The Highlander.
The move emerged after almost 1,000 people signed an online petition calling for the reinstatement of the medal in the last few weeks.
The petition has now been backed by more than 6,120 supporters.
Mr Baxter returned to a hero’s welcome at his home in Aviemore in 2002 after defying all predictions by finishing third in the men’s slalom of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
But his moment of glory turned to heartbreak a few days later after it emerged that he had failed a drugs test, following the discovery of a trace amount of the banned stimulant methamphetamine.
Mr Baxter, whonowruns a snow sports workshop in Stirling, said it was the result of an over-the-counter nasal inhaler he bought in the US, and was supported
“We felt like we were banging our head against a brick wall”
by the British Olympic Association.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport judged that the amount of the substance in his body was not enough to enhance his performance, but because of strict Olympic rules it could not back his appeal. Last night, the 42-year-old welcomed the renewed interest in his case on social media in recent weeks, andsaidhewas torn over whether to try again to have his medal reinstated.
“Honestly, it would be amazing,” Mr Baxter said.
“At that time there was a huge team behind me, lawyers and QCs, and we did the best we could, but we felt like we were banging ourheadagainst a brick wall.
“Obviously I would love to have it back but it’s tricky. When it first kicked off, I did speak to a fewpeople about it. We would have to be really clear about the way we go about it.”
Mr Hendry, the SNP MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, gave his backing.
“It is great to see, even after all this time, that Alain still has the support of our community,” he said.
“I fully support the campaign to have the bronze medal returned to him and tohave his achievements finally recognised.”
“Therefore I have written to t he International Olympics Committee and to the parliamentaryUnder Secretary of State for Sport, Tourism and Heritage to ask that they reopen this case and give Alain the justice he deserves.”