BRANDED A DRUGGIE BY AMAZON

A GOUROCK Amazon worker says his life was ruined after he was wrongly
branded a druggie by his bosses.

Khalid Elkhader was awarded UKP3,453 in compensation after managers at the
internet giant falsely told him he had tested positive for amphetamine and
fired him.

The 33-year-old, of Albert Road, had never taken drugs and was shocked when
a random test on 18 September last year was returned positive.

He appealed against it and was asked to take a second test. Amazon claimed
the test was also positive, and dismissed him for misconduct.

It was only after he took Amazon to a tribunal that he learned the second
test had actually been negative.

He was awarded with compensation after the Glasgow tribunal ruled his
sacking was unfair.

Speaking afterwards, the dad-of-one said: "I was shocked when the test came
back because I don't take drugs. I was so angry, I was saying, 'why are
they doing this to me'? I was a hard worker and enjoyed being part of the team.

"My reputation was ruined and I was stressed and I was going to leave the
country and split up my family. This was a nightmare.

"I come from a respectable family, and I rowed with them because they
thought I was taking drugs, but I explained the situation.

"But I believed in myself and in the law, so I wanted to prove I was innocent."

Khalid was fired in October last year after working with the company for
two years. The tribunal heard how he had tried to get the second sample
tested by his own doctor, and arranged for it to be sent it to the lab.

By the time a courier had arrived to collect it it was too late and the
sample - which he had planned to use as evidence - had been destroyed.

He then arranged for his own doctor to take a sample, which was also negative.

Khalid said: "I'm happy now. I didn't care about the money, I just wanted
to clear my name. Everyone who has been dismissed for this should fight for
their rights because you can prove you are innocent.

"Amazon should give people a chance because there isn't a lot of work in
this area. They need to change their drug testing procedures."