EXCLUSIVE

From DOUG GILLON

Barcelona, Monday

A TEAM of scientists claim to have given some of Britain's Olympic

competitors a unique advantage.

Their work has led to a product, Ergomax, which legally enhances

production of a natural substance called creatine which can help fight

fatigue. Creatine is contained in muscles and used in the body's energy

transfer system.

More than 100 British competitors in athletics, boxing, rowing,

swimming, canoeing, table tennis, and modern pentathlon are claimed to

be using the product.

The manufacturers have a letter from the world governing body of

athletics which confirms that supplementing creatine would not

constitute a doping offence.

Ergomax, which contains creatine, is taken orally. It increases the

creatine supply in the muscles.

This in turn enhances the energy level available to the muscle,

delaying the onset of fatigue caused by the build-up of lactic acid, the

waste product which makes muscles ''heavy'', and maximising the transfer

of energy across the cell.

In secret trials over the past few months, the product has been

code-named C-150.

Scientific papers, the culmination of research which began 20 years

ago, will be published within weeks and, if the claims advanced are

true, then sport may never be the same again.

Three scientists, headed by Dr Roger Harris, who works with the Animal

Research Trust at Newmarket, have been working on the project. The

others are Professor Eric Hultman in Stockholm, the man who pioneered

the theory of carbohydrate loading for marathon runners more than 20

years ago, and Karin Soderlund.

''Our research is conclusive,'' said Dr Harris. ''Although it sounds

very dramatic, I believe it will completely change the face of sport. We

also have other papers in the pipeline.

''We did not start out seeking to help sportsmen and women. There are

dramatic implications for improving the quality of life of a 70 or

80-year-old -- although I am not saying it will turn them into 100 metre

sprinters.''

Among those using Ergomax are Colin Jackson and Linford Christie, who,

it would appear, now have a better than even-money chance of winning

gold in the 110 metres hurdles and 100 metres. They take the product

with another energy fuel, Maxim, which is widely available on the open

market.

It is the two taken together which have caused a performance

break-through, it is claimed.

''Ergomax is not yet available on the market,'' said its supplier, Mr

Steve Jennings, yesterday. ''We have deliberately held back to give

British Olympic competitors a legitimate benefit denied to their rivals.

I have promised Linford and Colin that I will not make it available to

their rivals.''

His company also markets Maxim, and advertises it widely in the

sporting press.

Mr Jennings, a former professional cyclist, said: ''Ergomax is very

special. We could have made a fortune with it in recent months and I had

not planned to talk about it until after the games -- but it is too late

now for any of Britain's rivals to benefit.''