Sprinter Troy Douglas, facing a two-year ban from the sport if found guilty of using the drug Nandrolone, remains determined to clear his name.

And he found comfort in a phone call a few days ago from Sports Minister Dennis Lister who promised to stand by him.

"He called me on Friday to give me his support,'' said Douglas from his home in Holland yesterday.

"I'd like to thank him personally that he took time out of his busy schedule to call me. I really appreciate that. It made my day much easier. He guaranteed me that the Bermudian public was behind me and I'm grateful for that as well.

"I know I'm innocent and I'm looking forward to proving my innocence.'' Two years ago during the Ministry of Youth Development, Sport and Recreation's Drugs in Sports conference, Douglas spoke out strongly against illicit drugs in athletics, and vowed he would resist the temptation to use them. But now he finds himself at the centre of a drug-taking scandal, being forced to come up with an explanation on how the banned substance, Nandrolone, got into his system.

A three-time Olympic semi-finalist, Douglas opted to compete for Holland two years ago rather than continue to run under the Bermuda flag. He has been living in Holland for several years and his wife is Dutch.

But in his darkest hour, he says he gets comfort from knowing that his fellow Bermudians are standing behind him.

"That means a hell of a lot to me,'' said the 36-year-old sprinter. "The bottom line is my family is in Bermuda.

"I just happened to adopt another country, but I was born and raised in Bermuda. It's not like I totally turned my back on the country. Troy Douglas started in Bermuda and I will never forget where I came from.'' Douglas has never denied that the banned drug was detected in samples taken from him in June following a meet in Apeldoorn in central Holland. But he does deny that the drug was deliberately taken.

"I'm denying (deliberately) putting it in my system,'' the sprinter said vehemently.

"I found out that it could have come from supplements that I have been taking. There was a report that came out today that said that some of the supplements have been tampered with and I take the same supplements.

"That is something we'll have to look into.'' Arne Ljungqvist, chairman of the International Amateur Athletic Federation's medical committee, said spiked food supplements could have been responsible for the recent flood of positive tests. Ljungqvist said athletes may have ingested Nandrolone unwittingly in unlabelled over-the-counter supplements.

Douglas has a vitamin contract with a US company, whose reputation he defends.

But he admits he has also been taking other supplements that that company doesn't make.

"I've been able to maintain the level that I have the last three years because I have a vitamin contract and I'm allowed to get whatever vitamins I need when I need them,'' Douglas told The Royal Gazette during an interview in April, 1997.

He added yesterday: "The supplements I took are finished, so proving that is another case in itself. I have a different batch but how do I prove that?'' Douglas is prepared to do whatever it takes to clear his name. He has already been contacted by a lawyer who used to work with a testing lab in Holland and is prepared to defend him.

"I'm waiting to talk to a lawyer and people from the (Dutch) federation and take it from there,'' he explained.

"It's better to have the lawyer and the federation working with you.'' Douglas insisted the National Athletic Union of the Netherlands (KNAU) was standing by him and that he had been in constant contact with their doctor.

"They are doing the best they can, but they are like the athletes themselves, they have their hands tied,'' said Douglas.

"I talk to the doctor from the federation every day and they do send me information. They want to clear their name, this is the first time that they've had a sprinter of world class level fall victim to circumstance. The bottom line is you are guilty of the crime and now you have to prove your innocence.

"I'm still determined to get my good name back so that I can continue competing and finish at the Olympic Games like I always planned. I want to finish my career in Sydney and then move on with a clean slate.

"I came in clean and want to go out clean. This year I was in the shape of my life and I knew I was destined for great things this year. This is a situation I've never dreamed of being in.'' Troy Douglas: The Bermudian sprinter feels supplements he has been taking may have been tainted with the illicit drug Nandrolone.

DRUGS DGS