Palin 'Took Cocaine And Cheated On Husband'

Sarah Palin's hopes of joining the 2012 US presidential race have been thrown into jeopardy after claims that she used drugs, had a fling with a basketball star and cheated on her husband.

The salacious allegations appear in a new unauthorised biography by author Joe McGinniss called The Rogue: Searching For The Real Sarah Palin, due to be released in the US next week.

The National Enquirer, which has obtained an advance copy of the book, claims Mrs Palin snorted cocaine off the top of an overturned oil drum while snowmobiling with friends.

It also alleges she smoked marijuana in secret liaisons with a university professor while studying in Alaska.

A friend of the Palin family is said to have claimed that the Tea Party politician's husband, Todd, also used cocaine and that he was "on the end of the straw plenty".

The book goes on to claim to substantiate allegations previously denied by Mrs Palin that she had a six-month affair in the mid 1990s with her husband's business partner, Brad Hanson.

Mr McGinniss writes that the relationship put "considerable pressure" on Mrs Palin's marriage, with Todd complaining to friends about "loss of intimacy".

He also claims Mrs Palin had a one-night stand with basketball star Glen Rice nine months before her marriage to her husband.

She is said to have met the 6ft 8ins former NBA champion when he was playing in a college basketball tournament in Alaska and she worked as a TV sports reporter.

The tryst reportedly occurred over Thanksgiving weekend 1987 in the university dormitory room of Palin's younger sister.

Mr McGinniss says he spoke with Mr Rice, who confirmed the tryst, but Rice has not made any official response to the claims.

There also has been no comment so far from the Palin camp to any of the allegations.

Mr McGinniss, who made his name as the author of a study of Richard Nixon's campaign, rented the house next door to the Palins in Wasilla, Alaska, while researching the bombshell book.

While he was living there, Mrs Palin, 47, warned him to not to spy on her family.