Olympian Saunders furious at 'drugs' raid

Published on Tuesday 25 November 2008 22:26

BRITISH Olympic boxer Bradley Saunders has vehemently denied being involved in the dealing of Class A drugs.

Saunders, 22, said police with a search warrant and sniffer dog burst into his home as he relaxed with his girlfriend after a morning training session.

He was released without charge and has been bailed to return to Spennymoor police station in the new year.

Speaking from his parents' three-bedroom home in County Durham, Saunders, a father of one, said: "It was about midday; I'd been out for a morning run and had gone back to bed to watch TV with my girlfriend, Stephanie.

"All of a sudden the police were at the door. There was about seven of them, at least, and a dog. They said they had a warrant. I asked them what did they want and told them to wait so that I could ring my mam, because I wanted a witness, but before I could they all burst in.

"They'd finished going through my house and they were on their way out when they went through to the back garden.

"Right next to the back gate was a sheet of white plastic, like a bin bag, and when they lifted it up underneath was a kind of metal biscuit tin just laid on the grass. They opened it up said 'What's this powder?'"

Saunders said police had told him they had received an anonymous telephone tip-off.

"There was never anything in that garden. I know nothing about any drugs. I have never had a criminal record, I've never been done for drugs.

"I earn a decent living and have been getting paid since I was 13 years old for boxing. There is no reason for me to be involved in drugs.

"Since the Olympics I've been the victim of quite a lot of crime. My house was burgled recently as my girlfriend and I slept.

"People get jealous. They can take against you."