Sports: Polish Olympic official suspended

Warsaw, July 9: Artur Pilka has been suspended as vice-president of the Polish Olympic Committee on suspicion of drug dealing, PAP news agency reported today.

He lost his job as sports adviser to Polish president Lech Kaczynski after being detained earlier today.

Pilka, 36, has held sport and tourism posts in Polish government instiutions since 1995 and served on the Council of Europe's anti-doping subcommittee.

Justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro told a news conference on Sunday that Pilka was suspected of acquiring about a kilogram of cocaine over the past three to four years.

''His line of defence is that it was for his own personal use,'' the minister added.

But Ziobro declined to give further details saying their premature release could harm the investigation.

It was not immediately known whether Pilka was involved in preparations for the 2012 European Football Championships which Poland and Ukraine are co-hosting.

President Kaczynski travels to Ukraine on Monday to discuss details of the two countries' Euro 2012 project.

Reuters>