The inevitable news came on Thursday afternoon of last week that, as suspected, Alain Baxter has been stripped of his Olympic bronze medal.

The decision by the International Olympic Committee's executive committee was confirmed at a news conference. In a statement the IOC said Baxter had been disqualified and ordered to return his slalom medal within 10 days.

The bronze medal will now go to Benjamin Raich of Austria who finished fourth. Raich also won a bronze in the men's combined event at the Games.

Possibility of an appeal?

Craig Reedie, chairman of the British Olympic Association, said he was "very disappointed at the decision. We believe the offence to be modest and the punishment very severe."

Baxter, who had not spoken publicly since the episode began, announced he was considering launching an appeal against the disqualification. "I have to speak to my lawyers and see," he said. "I think we have a really good case."

Baxter revealed how he had been in the midst of celebrating in his home village of Aviemore when he found out about his positive test for the banned substance methamphetamine.

"The homecoming was one of the most amazing experiences of my life," he said. "Such a small village with such support behind me. Two days later I took a call saying I had tested positive. I had no idea what this positive sample could be, and three weeks later here I am now."

Banned

Baxter has received an automatic ban from competition skiing which lasts until June. The International Skiing Federation have to decide now whether to extend that ban, as they could prolong it to as much as two years.

Strict liability

An emotional Baxter re-iterated the point he made to the IOC last week - that the positive drugs test came from an over-the-counter nasal inhaler bought in the US.

But the IOC's strict liability rule meant he was responsible for the substance in his body.

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