By Anna Thompson BBC Sport Online Winter Sports editor

Alain Baxter has spoken about his relief at being able to resume his racing career immediately.

The Scottish skier told BBC Sport Online that although he wants to win back his Olympic bronze medal, the priority for him was the successful race-ban appeal.

He said: "This was a big one for me. It is excellent news because it means I can start racing again, which is so important to me."

Baxter received a three-month ban from the International Ski Federation after he failed a drugs test at the Winter Olympics in February.

The sport's governing body ruled it had been unintentional - Baxter had taken the American version of a Vicks inhaler which contained a banned drug - and handed out the minimum sanction.

However, the federation stated Baxter would be banned until 15 December, which was in essence a five month ban.

He appealed and the Court of Arbitration for Sport agreed the calculation had been wrong.

Baxter is currently ranked 30th in the world but that ranking would have been lower if he had not been able to compete until mid-December.

Baxter, 28, will now be able to race slaloms in Nor-Am Cups in North America and in the Europa Cup in Finland ahead of the start of the main season, the World Cup.

The first World Cup slalom race will be in Park City, Utah, on 24 November - just a few miles from Deer Valley, where he won the Olympic bronze medal, Britain's first ever ski medal.

Baxter, who is currently training in Switzerland, said: "Everything is looking good at the moment. My training's going well and we've just had a metre of fresh snow. It looks gorgeous.

"If the appeal had not been successful I would not have been able to take part in any races until the middle of December, which would have been a big blow to my career."

His coach, Christian Schwaiger, agreed.

He said: "Alain can now get on with his career.

"He has not raced since the Olympics and it is important for him to get back into competition.

"We'll be at the World Cup in Park City now.

"This is his favourite hill and gives him the chance to show what he can do and maintain his world ranking."

Now for round two - Baxter's attempt to win his medal back and clear his name.

The Court of Arbitration of Sport will convene in London on 5 and 6 September to hear the second appeal, against the International Olympic Committee's decision.

Baxter added: "I've got a great team working very hard for me.

"I will probably be training in Europe when the appeal is on but I feel very positive about the outcome."