BRITAIN'S bobsleigh star Mark Tout was yesterday banned for life after failing a random drugs test. Tout, on the British team at the last Winter Olympics, admitted the offence after testing positive for an anabolic steroid last month.

The British Bobsleigh Association issued an statement, saying: "The life ban was imposed by the disciplinary committee of the British Bobsleigh Association and subsequently ratified by the sport's governing board.

"It is understood that the athlete, who has apologised, does not intend to appeal against the decision."

Nicky Phipps, Tout's former British team mate, said the news was a great shock. "I've know Mark for a long, long time and we were team mates for many years. Within our sport, we know it has gone on over the years through the other countries and I suppose we never expected it to happen to us really."

Tout helped British bobsleighers to their best Winter Olympics for 30 years in Lillehammer in 1994. He was sixth with Lennox Paul in the two man event and a member of the four man team which finished fifth.