ADDICTIVE DRUG GIVES FALSE ENERGY

METHAMPHETAMINE is an addictive stimulant that dramatically affects the
central nervous system.

It is made in clandestine laboratories with relatively inexpensive
ingredients available over-the-counter and is a white, odourless,
bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol.

The drug was developed early this century from amphetamine, and was
originally used in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers.

Like amphetamine, methamphetamine causes increased activity, decreased
appetite, and a general sense of well-being although its effects are far
more pronounced than those of amphetamine.

Immediately after smoking the drug or injecting it intravenously, the user
experiences an intense rush or flash that lasts only a few minutes.

Following this, there is typically a state of high agitation that in some
individuals can lead to violent behaviour. The effects of methamphetamine
can last from six to eight hours.

As with similar stimulants, methamphetamine is most often used in a binge
and crash pattern. Because tolerance for methamphetamine occurs within
minutes - meaning the pleasurable effects disappear even before the drug
concentration in the blood falls significantly - users try to maintain the
high by bingeing on the drug.

Professor Gary Wadler, of the New York University School of Medicine and
author of the book, Drugs and the Athlete, said amphetamines did not create
extra physical and mental energy, they simply provided an impression of
enhancement.

He said the drugs were noted for distorting the user's perception of
reality and impairing judgment.

Athletes are directly responsible for whatever is found in their urine and
Alain Baxter does not need to have been attempting to cheat to be regarded
as guilty.

Unless he can provide a remarkable explanation for the presence of
methamphetamine in his urine, he seems likely to be convicted of an offence.

Michelle Verroken, director of UK Sports' anti-doping efforts, said: "The
mere presence of a banned substance is regarded as an offence."

Positive excuses

INGE de Bruijn, Ireland's triple Olympic gold medal swimmer, was judged
guilty when her test sample was contaminated with whisky, enough to have
killed her if it went through her system. Adri van der Poel, the Dutch
world cyclocross champion and Tour de France stage winner, blamed his
father-in-law, a pigeon fancier. He claimed he made a pigeon pie, and when
he tested positive he found his relative had been doping the birds with
strychnine.

Petr Korda, the tennis player, blamed his excessive liking for veal when he
tested positive for a banned substance. The ITF established he would have
had to eat a 40-strong herd of calves every day for two decades to explain
his reading.

Paul Edwards, the British shot putter, blamed drinking shampoo for the
toxic mixture of anabolic steroids and clenbuterol found in his system.

Daniel Plaza, Spain's silver medallist in the Atlanta Olympic 20km walk,
claimed imbibing bodily fluids while having oral sex with his pregnant wife
was responsible for his unnaturally high hormone count.

Ben Johnson, the Canadian who lost the 1988 Olympic 100m title on a steroid
positive result, blamed his stammer for a high testosterone reading.

David Martinez, a Spanish discus thrower, tested positive for steroids. To
prove it came from contaminated pork, he kept a pig in his back garden and
injected it with anabolics, eventually sitting down to a gammon meal. He
then tested clear of steroids, and his defence collapsed.

Johann Muehlegg, the German-born cross-country skier for Spain in the Salt
Lake Winter Games, won three gold medals. He forfeited one when he tested
positive for blood-boosting darbepoetin.

Lenny Paul, a member of the British bobsleigh team, tested positive, but it
was accepted that spaghetti bolognese, made from steroid-injected beef, was
an acceptable excuse.