Uzbek official to be charged in Aussie court

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Canberra: An Uzbekistan Olympics official will appear in court to face charges of importing banned human growth hormone (HGH), Australian Customs minister Amanda Vanstone said on Thursday.

Sergei Voynov, 45, has been summonsed to appear in a Sydney magistrates' court next Tuesday to be formally charged. If he fails to appear, a warrant for his arrest could be issued, a spokesman for Vanstone's office said.

Voynov was detained at Sydney airport last Thursday, allegedly carrying 15 vials of the prohibited performance-enhancingdrug. Uzbekistan National Olympic Committee chief Sabirjan Ruziev said Voynov had declared the drugs on arrival in Sydney and needed the HGH to treat a skin disorder. He has since been treated in hospital for cardiac problems.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the official's Olympic accreditation would be withdrawn if he was found to have smuggled illegal drugs into Australia.

Vanstone said she could not discuss details because the case was now the subject of court proceedings. "Australia's border agencies are doing an excellent job of facilitating the large number of Games visitors into Australia while also ensuring Australia's laws are upheld." she said in a statement.

Under Australian law the maximum punishment for carrying HGH illegally into the country is a fine of A $ 100,000 (US $ 55,600) or a five-year prison sentence. The IOC have yet to develop a test for the expensive HGH, currently fashionable with cheats who want to boost their power.



(c) Reuters Limited.