Bermudian athlete Troy Douglas could be among the unwitting beneficiaries of the THG drug scandal now sweeping the sporting world.

In the wake of British sprint sensation Dwain Chambers' positive test for THG - tetrahydrogestrinone - prior to this summer's Athletics World Championships in France, Douglas - who now competes for Holland - and his team-mates could be awarded the bronze medal for the 4x100-metre relay.

The British took home silver behind the Americans but, with anchorman Chambers facing a possible doping ban, he and his squad - Christian Malcolm, Darren Campbell and Marlon Devonish - could have their medals revoked.

This would boost the original bronze medallists, Brazil, into second place and propel the Dutch, who finished fourth in 38.87 seconds, onto the podium.

Amid furore and speculation about the outcome of hearings against Chambers and other THG-positive sportspersons, Douglas said the Netherlands' relay runners were not paying serious attention to the matter.

"It's quite interesting but, as far as our team is concerned, we've already had our celebration. To us, fourth place was like a gold medal and we were extremely happy.

"It's okay (if we get bronze) but we're more excited about December 17 because we have been nominated as one of the best sports teams of the year in the country.

"For us that nomination and being fourth at the Worlds mean more to us than somebody possibly losing their silver medal and us getting a bronze medal."

Their goal, he explained, was to qualify for the Athens Olympics in 2004 and, en route to achieving that, they have witnessed increasing support for athletics because of their success.

"Track and field is finally getting some positive light on it and being recognised as a serious sport.

"The way we came together as a team at the Worlds and grew together in our performances, we've become household names here and everybody has become attached to us now. This has really been special to us.

"I've had enough experience with the IAAF that I'll believe it when I see it. Right now we're just focused on our goal which is to get ready for the Olympics and we're not really bothered about the bronze medal."

In any case, he noted, even if they were to be awarded medals they would have been robbed of the thrill of winning on the track in front of cheering fans. This, he added, was always preferable to getting a medal after drug tests and inquiries.

Asked his views on the THG situation, Douglas replied that "if an athlete has to take drugs to beat me then that's the biggest compliment they can give me".

Saying he cannot waste time trying to determine who is cheating, the veteran observed the best thing for him now was "to get out there and enjoy myself in the sport and be a positive influence to the people around me".

As for whether interest in athletics would wane under the current wave of negativity, he could not say but lamented the "sad way the sport is going".

One good thing to have emerged from the ongoing spectacle, he pointed out, is the fact that several other sports have been called to account.

"This issue with THG has brought a lot of other sports into the spotlight. For a while track and field has been blacklisted but now we are seeing baseball, basketball, swimming, football - everybody else is also testing positive. More cases are coming out that aren't track and field."

THG was unmasked this summer as a steroid chemically modified to avoid detection in standard tests. A different test was developed for THG and samples from the World Championships were re-tested.

Douglas also noted that while people tended to dwell on the distasteful aspects of drug use, there was a glaring positive in the Chambers scenario.

"Even though Dwain Chambers tested positive for THG, Kim Collins (of St. Kitts/Nevis) beat him (in the men's 100-metre final). That's the bright side of the story - a guy who is clean beat him.

"In fact, he didn't get a medal at all."

Meanwhile, Communications Director of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Nick Davies, says the date of Chambers' hearing with UK Athletics - the sport's governing body in Britain - will be determined next Monday. It is unlikely, he added, this meeting would take place before the New Year.

"Once he (Chambers) has this hearing, then a decision will be taken as to whether he is guilty of doping.

"If so, then the 4x100 team from Great Britain will lose the silver and the Dutch will move up one place," confirmed Davies in an e-mail to The Royal Gazette yesterday.

Douglas, who ran the back stretch in Paris, is captain of a squad including Timothy Beck, Patrick van Balkom and Caimin Douglas with Guus Hoggmond as the alternate.

Though having marked his 41st birthday last Sunday, the Bermudian has never felt more confident about how he is performing.

"I'm very happy with my running. In my role as captain there's a lot of stress but stress that I like. Finally, I'm where I've always wanted to be and everything that's happening now is where I've wanted to get to.

"I'm really excited at this stage of my career and happy I'm part of a team that's growing and making history."

Regarding their chances at the Olympics, he said: "If the guys do what I expect them to do this season we have a chance of reaching the finals and, like I always say, in the final anything is possible."