Alain Baxter (born 26 December 1973) is a Scottish former alpine skier who was formerly a professional specialising in the slalom discipline. He is best known for failing a drug test after finishing third in the men's slalom of the 2002 Winter Olympics, resulting in him being controversially stripped of the bronze medal; he would have become the first British person to win an Olympic medal in a skiing event. The use of a nasal inhaler purchased in the US had led to the presence of a banned substance in Baxter's urine. He was allowed to return to competition, although his appeal to have the medal reinstated failed. He competed in FIS events from 1991 to 2009 and became known as "The Highlander". In the World Cup events, he achieved eleven top-fifteen finishes and four top-ten results.

Baxter was born on 26 December 1973 in Edinburgh, Scotland.^[1] He is the son of Iain and Sue Baxter, who were both British Ski Team members. Baxter's father named him after Alan Breck Stewart, a character from the Robert Louis Stevenson novel Kidnapped, who was a rebellious Highlander.^[2] The French spelling led some to believe he was named after the 70s French skiing star Alain Penz.^[3] At 16 years of age, he was selected to the British Alpine Ski Team in 1991.^[4] Baxter's first 10 years of competition were achieved without him having access to any significant funding.^[5] Austrian journalists gave him the sobriquet "The Highlander".^[6] He steadily worked his way through the world rankings, making the top 100 in time for the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.^[7] At Nagano he straddled a gate and was disqualified, having been 15th-fastest at the checkpoint just before.^[8]

His best result in World Cup was 4th at Åre 11 March 2001 and he had three other top 10 finishes in 2001.^[9] In 2001, at Wengen he finished seventh in the World Cup Slalom, the best performance by a Britain at the Swiss resort.^[10]

Ahead of the Olympics, ski technology was developing rapidly and Baxter's sponsor Head, was struggling to keep up the progress made by other ski manufacturers.^[8]

In the Salt Lake City Olympics of 2002, Baxter made British Olympic history on 23 February by becoming the first British skier to win a medal (Bronze) in alpine skiing.^[11] In the men's slalom, Baxter was in eighth place in the first run, then rose to third after the second run.^[12] Before the competition he had dyed his hair in the pattern of the Saltire cross of St Andrew: the flag of Scotland.^[13] The British Olympic Association (BOA) ordered him to remove the political symbol, but the blue dye he used to try to obliterate the white saltire was a different shade, and the saltire pattern could still clearly be seen when he won his medal.^[14]

On 1 March, as he was leaving the Olympic village to return home, Baxter was informed by the BOA that a sample he submitted had tested positive for a restricted substance.^[15] Baxter returned home to Aviemore to a hero's welcome and a parade around the town in an open top bus. On 5 March the BOA released a statement on his behalf, revealing that he had failed a drugs test, with his urine having tested positive for the prohibited substance, methamphetamine.^[16] Baxter stated that he had not knowingly ingested, and that he would not make any further statement until the IOC's inquiry and disciplinary commissions ruled on his case.^[17] After the first sample tested positive, a disciplinary stage was expected to follow and the British Olympic Association offered their support.^[18] The International Olympic Committee (IOC) held a private two-day hearing in Lausanne, where Baxter would be able to speak, with the outcome expected the following week.^[19][20] On 21 March, Baxter held a press conference in London, where he offered an explanation that he believed a nasal inhaler that he had used had been the cause of the positive test.^[21] the IOC announced the decision of their executive board that Baxter was disqualified and was told to return his medal. Baxter returned the medal, for it to be awarded to Austrian Benjamin Raich.^[22]

In 2004 Baxter won his seventh British Slalom title,^[38] a record that was unequalled until Dave Ryding also won a seventh title in 2016.^[39]

While his form never quite reached the same heights as they did in Salt Lake City, Alain Baxter remained the highest ranked and most recognisable male alpine skier in the UK. He was well respected by the more established skiing nations and his talent was the best the UK had produced.

He competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics at Turin, where he finished 16th in the slalom.^[40]

In 2008, facing ongoing difficulties for funding, he posed naked for photographer Trevor Yerbury to produce a "tastefully nude" calendar.^[41][42][43] Affected by a chronic back injury, he announced his retirement from competitive skiing in April 2009, age 35.^[44]

Following retirement from competition, Baxter runs a ski shop near Glasgow.^[45] In February 2014 an online petition was launched to return his medal.^[46]

He is also a keen player of shinty, and turned out for Kincraig Shinty Club when that club was still active.^[47] Baxter won the 2005 British Superstars event, defeating Du'aine Ladejo who had edged Baxter out for the 2003 title.^[48]

After announcing his retirement from downhill skiing in 2009, Baxter decided to try track-cycling.^[49] He had some assistance from the Scottish Institute of Sport's talent transfer programme.^[50] Baxter made his debut on a track bike racing at Manchester Velodrome on 5 December 2009, at part of the Revolution (cycling series) - Season 6.^[51] He set himself a goal of racing in the Commonwealth Games in 2010 which he unfortunately did not achieve.^{[citation needed]}

In 2015, Baxter took part in Red Bull Crashed Ice racing events in Belfast and Quebec as part of a Scottish side.^[52][53] He qualified for the final in Quebec but withdrew from the final after sustaining broken ribs.^[53]

His brother, Noel Baxter is also an alpine skier. His cousin Lesley McKenna is a leading professional snowboarder and winner of two World Cups.

Baxter married businesswoman Sheila Dow in 2006,^[54] after the two met at Finlay Mickel's wedding the previous year.^[1][42] They have three children.^[45]

In 2014, the decision was taken to name a housing development in Aviemore "Baxter's Court" in his honour.^[55]