Skiing: Baxter launches appeal

British skier Alain Baxter is to appeal against the International Olympic Committee’s decision to strip him of an Olympic bronze medal, the skier confirmed today.

Baxter said he will lodge his claim with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, following the IOC’s sanction last month.

Speaking before the release of a formal statement, Baxter said: ‘‘I’m convinced that the IOC has got this wrong and I am fighting to regain the ranking points and bronze medal I won on merit in Salt Lake.

‘‘It is vital that the IOC allow an isomer separation test in order that I can fully clear my name of any doping charges. This is crucial to the future of my skiing career.’’

Baxter was ordered last month to hand back the Winter Olympics bronze medal after failing a post-race drugs test when 20 millionths of a gram of banned substance methamphetamine in his urine sample.