Posted: Fri, 05 Jul 2019 05:00:01 GMT

Champion cyclist Jack Bobridge has been jailed in Western Australia for four years and six months for drug supply offences, with the judge saying the Olympian's dramatic fall from grace was an "absolute tragedy".

The Adelaide-born father-of-one maintains his innocence, but a WA District Court jury found him guilty of supplying ecstasy tablets in 2017 to former professional cyclist Alex McGregor.

Bobridge, an Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallist, supplied the drugs months after he retired from the sport suffering rheumatoid arthritis.

Defence counsel Sam Vandongen said his client had indulged in alcohol and drugs while enjoying celebrity status in Europe and it was remarkable he had been able to train.

"They are treated as superstars," Mr Vandongen said on Friday.

"It attracts certain people to you and brings temptations."

Judge Stephen Scott said it was a common story for young people in the spotlight, particularly sports stars.

"He fell into partying and drugs and alcohol," Judge Scott said.

Prosecutor Joel Grinceri noted the 29-year-old had given evidence he had been a heavy drug user for some time, with cocaine being his substance of choice because it left the body quicker than others, allowing him to avoid detection by the sport's testing regime.

After he retired following the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Bobridge continued to take drugs, filed for bankruptcy, lost an interest in a gym and had to work as a bricklayer to pay his debts.

Judge Scott sentenced him for supplying 301 ecstasy tablets, although McGregor claimed he had provided more.

The judge said he was satisfied Bobridge had done so due to evidence about other "uncharged acts", so he had clearly played a "prolific role" in drug supply.

His dependency was no excuse, Judge Scott said.

"You've been an outstanding athlete," he said.

"This is an absolute tragedy."

The court heard McGregor was arrested after he sold the pills to an undercover police officer who was involved in an operation targeting drug dealing at nightclubs and bars, and he received a heavily reduced sentence for giving evidence against Bobridge.

Judge Scott said there had been "a degree of sophistication" to their communications, including encrypted messages using cycling jargon as code.

Bobridge claimed they had been about a training program, which Judge Scott did not accept.

The court heard McGregor also lied during the trial.

Bobridge has been declared a drug trafficker, and will be eligible for parole after serving two years and six months behind bars.

He blew a kiss to the public gallery as he was led away.

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