Alain Baxter, stripped of his bronze medal in the Winter Olympics after failing a drugs test, could be competing again next week after winning an appeal over his three-month ban, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled yesterday.

The 28-year-old, from Aviemore in Speyside, had lodged an appeal about the timescale of the ban by the International Ski Federation (FIS). The initial ruling would have prevented him from competing until December 15.

But the court in Lausanne, Switzerland, ruled Baxter had already served two months of his ban in the previous skiing season and it would be lifted on Sunday. Baxter, who is training in Switzerland, said: "I am delighted. This is the first step on the route to justice."

John Clark, a spokesman for Baxter, added: "The last race of the season was at the end of April and Alain had been banned from February 23, and then the season resumed again in July. So, taking those two periods into account, he has served the ban."

The arbitration body will also conduct a hearing in London between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Baxter about the removal of his medal on September 5.

Baxter tested positive for methamphetamine after he won bronze in the men's slalom at Salt Lake City in February. The FIS said he had not sought to enhance his performance - he claimed the positive test was a result of a decongestant inhaler - but imposed the ban for unintentional use.

[PA]

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