Baptiste Cleared of Bogus Drugs Charge

Former West Indies fast bowler Eldine Baptiste is to be released from custody in England after tests revealed he did not import cocaine. Baptiste, 43, was detained at London's Gatwick Airport on Sunday after arriving on a flight from his native Antigua, the BBC reported.

It said initial tests on golf balls he brought into the country erroneously revealed traces of cocaine and he was arrested as part of regular procedures. But customs later realised they had made a major error.

"More in-depth tests have shown that no cocaine was found," a customs spokeswoman told the BBC. "Immediate arrangements are being made for his release."

Baptiste had appeared in Crawley magistrates court on Monday charged with attempting to import a class A drug when he was remanded in custody to spend a second night in police cells. On Tuesday afternoon he finally learnt he was a free man once again.

Antigua and Barbuda High Commissioner Sir Ronald Sanders called the incident a major blunder.

"I cannot tell you how angry I am when he has been made to suffer so," he said. "If the balls had not been retested, he could have gone to jail for 10 years.

"It's totally unacceptable and I will urge him to do something about it."

Baptiste is currently employed as coach of South African domestic club KwaZulu-Natal and was in Antigua for the fourth West Indies Test against Australia. He was a recent finalist for the post of West Indies coach to replace Roger Harper.

Baptiste has also played domestic cricket with South Africa's Eastern Province, England's Kent and Northamptonshire, and the Leeward Islands in the West Indies.

* SOURCE: BBC News.