The Court of Arbitration for Sport made its decision on Wednesday and will release a statement later in the day.

Baxter was forced to hand back his medal to the International Olympic Committee after failing a drugs test.

Baxter said after the decision: "I'm gutted about not getting the medal back but there are a lot of positives to come out of this.

"I've cleared my name and I'm not classed as a drugs cheat anymore."

He had finished third in the men's slalom at the Salt Lake Winter Olympics in February - winning Britain's first ever ski medal - but a post-race urine sample tested positive for banned substance methamphetamine.

Baxter argued in his appeal in London last month that he had not taken the performance-enhancing drug.

His sample contained lev-methamphetamine, which is a decongestant and was present in an American version Vicks inhaler he used.

The IOC does not run a test which differentiates between the two isomers.

And CAS backed the IOC's strict liabilty rule, which means an athlete is responsible for whatever is in his or her body.

Baxter's mother, Sue Dixon, said after the decision she was disappointed but her son had been half expecting it.

Simon Clegg, chief executive of the British Olympic Association, said: "Alain has paid a most severe penalty for a modest mistake and it is clear that the principle of strict liability underscored this decision."

However the 28-year-old has won one battle with the ski authorities.

He successfully appealed against a three-month International Ski Federation ban, which had initially ruled him out of racing until 15 December.

Baxter can race immediately after winning the appeal and his first World Cup race will be the slalom in Park City, in the United States, on 24 November.