Crossword Genius

Struggling to detain a counter-agent (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

antidote

'a counter-agent' is the definition.
(counter-agent for a poison)

'struggling to detain' is the wordplay.
'struggling' is an anagram indicator (I've seen this in other clues).
'to'+'detain'='todetain'
'todetain' anagrammed gives 'ANTIDOTE'.

(Other definitions for antidote that I've seen before include "Counter-measure" , "It is used to counteract poison" , "Donate it to anti-poison agent" , "It makes you feel better" , "It counteracts poison" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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