Baxter contemplates track cycling career change

BRITAIN'S skier Alain Baxter has revealed has hasn't given up hope of claiming an Olympic medal just yet as he contemplates swapping his skis for the saddle.

CAREER CHANGE: Alain Baxter is contemplating swapping the slops for the cycling track (Getty Images)

The 35-year-old, who claimed Britain's first ever skiing medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics - only to see it stripped after testing positive for a banned substance found in a Vicks inhaler, announced his international retirement yesterday.

Baxter defends his innocence and was cleared of any wrongdoing after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport - but the IOC held firm and refused to return his medal.

The Scot remains Great Britain's most successful ski injury and shot to fame in 2005 - claiming victory in the multi-sport television show Superstars.

And while a series of injuries and lack of funding caused ‘The Highlander' to call time on his career at the British Championships in Meribel, Baxter admitted he is weighing up a career-change in a bid to join countryman Chris Hoy in the all-conquering British Cycling set-up.

"During Superstars I was quite strong on a bike and I would now like to see just how strong," said Baxter - who signed off in style by stopping to drink a dram of whisky in his final race in Meribel.

"I'd like to get this one wee thing off my mind. It is late in the day for a career change but it is just an inkling I have."

Despite a series of injuries that saw him slip out of the top 100 in the world, Baxter had every intention of competing at Vancouver 2010 and even posed nude for a calendar to raise money.

And Baxter - who has also played competitive ice hockey - will never get to put his name back in the Winter Olympic history books, he admitted he has plenty more irons in the fire.

"It is a shame I've had so many injuries," added the three-time Olympian. "I would have loved to have done it. Vancouver was my big long-term focus. I had my mind set on that.

"But my wife is very business-minded and she suggested we start a company, basically a sports consultancy and ski instructing.

"I've actually joined a model agency to do a bit of that with sporting stuff."