By Associated Press, 10/23/01

BASEL, Switzerland -- The site of an ATP tournament was closed for more than hour Tuesday after guards discovered a letter feared to contain anthrax. The substance turned out to be cocaine, authorities said.

The problem was cleared up in time to allow the opening round of the Swiss Indoors to begin on schedule at St. Jakobshalle. The tournament features some of the top players on the men's tour.

Analysis at the Basel city lab showed no anthrax spores in the powder, said Rolf Klaus, state chief of chemical security.

Further analysis showed the powder was 1-2 grams of cocaine, police spokeswoman Barbara Umiker said. She said there were no indications who left the letter in the restaurant area.

Marcos Mueller, chief of the state's civil defense, said two agents for a private security firm found a letter in the arena lobby Tuesday morning.

"When one of them opened it, powder trickled out," Mueller said. He said the powder was brought to the main entrance and tournament security officers were alerted.

The two agents were taken to a hospital, where they were treated as if they had been exposed to anthrax, Klaus said. But the results of the chemical analysis were returned quickly and they did not have to start antibiotics.

Rene Mundwiler, tournament vice president, said authorities were trying to find who planted the letter.

A "bio alert" was given at 10:12 a.m., a fire department spokesman said. The building was reopened shortly after 11:30 a.m.

Firefighters deployed a fleet of vehicles designed to treat chemical spills. The building was not evacuated but fans were prevented from using the main entrance, Umiker said.

There was no immediate information on the whereabouts of the players at the time. Among those to play Tuesday were Tim Henman, Carlos Moya, Alex Corretja and Arnaud Clement.

Police said suspicious mail caused concern at three other locations in Switzerland. Five people were examined for anthrax exposure after coming into contact with letters containing white powder at three post officials. No anthrax was reported found.

"We're not dealing with anthrax, but with fear," state physician Ignazio Cassis said.

In the United States, the bioterrorist toll mounted. The death of two postal workers in Washington of "almost certain" anthrax led health officials to begin testing mail workers from 36 post offices in the nation's capital Tuesday and put thousands on antibiotics as a precaution.