Perth: Two-time Olympic cycling silver medallist Jack Bobridge has been handed a prison term for more than four years after being found guilty of dealing in drugs following his retirement after the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Bobridge was part of the Australian silver medal-winning team pursuit at Rio and at the 2012 Olympics in London. He also won two gold medals at the World Championships in team pursuit and one in the individual pursuit.
The 29-year Bobridge was convicted in the District Court here Friday on four charges of supplying ‘ecstasy’ tablets to a former friend here between March and August 2017. He was sentenced to a total of four years and six months, but will be eligible for parole.
During his testimony, Bobridge named two other Australian cyclists who he claimed had taken drugs with him, but their names were suppressed by the judge.
The District Court was told the friend to whom Bobridge had given the tablets was former professional cyclist Alex McGregor. The latter then sold the drugs to a man who turned out to be an undercover police officer involved in an operation targetting drug dealing in nightclubs and bars. The quantities of drugs supplied varied from 10 to 99 tablets.
Bobridge, 29, denied the four charges against him, testifying that it was McGregor who had supplied him with the drugs for his personal use. He however, admitted that he was a frequent user of cocaine and ‘ecstasy’.
Agencies