Boxer held over 'cocaine stash'

A British Olympic boxer is being questioned by police on suspicion of dealing cocaine, it emerged today.

Bradley Saunders, 22, who was a medal hope at the Beijing Games, was held after a police sniffer dog found what was believed to be £12,000 of the drug in his back garden.

A warrant was executed at the British light-welterweight champion's semi-detached home in Cragside, Sedgefield, County Durham, at 1pm yesterday.

The boxer was taken away for questioning with his girlfriend Stephanie Elliott, also 22. The couple were held at Spennymoor Police Station and later released on police bail.

The dog alerted officers to a tin which contained more than 300g of white powder. It was sent away for analysis.

Saunders was tipped to bring back a gold medal from the summer games and was criticised after he said he was relieved to be going home to his young family after a shock defeat in his second fight.