Former world champion track cyclist, Jack Bobridge, has been found guilty of supplying hundreds of MDMA pills to fellow cyclist Alex McGregor, who then sold them on to others including an undercover police officer.
The Australian – who was forced to retire from cycling in 2016 due to rheumatoid arthritis – was arrested in 2017 after being targeted by an undercover police operation that was looking to crack down on the supply of drugs in bars and nightclubs in Perth.
ABC reports that Bobridge pleaded not guilty to four counts of supplying MDMA – testifying that it was McGregor who had supplied him with the drugs for his own personal use – but he was found guilty and will be sentenced in July.
Bobridge told the court that he had started using recreational drugs while living "a fantastic lifestyle" of partying and training while road racing in Europe.
He said he drank heavily and used recreational drugs including cocaine and ecstasy, and when he couldn’t afford the drugs, fans would supply him with the substances, which also helped him deal with the pain of his arthritis.
Bobridge said that when his marriage then broke down, he started using alcohol and drugs more and more. He reportedly named two other Australian cyclists who he said had taken drugs with him. The riders’ names were suppressed by the judge.
McGregor, who had already pleaded guilty to five counts of selling MDMA and related charges, said he first received pills from Bobridge in March 2017 after they took the drug at his parents’ house.
“We took some ecstasy each. We talked about pills and how we would sell them,” he said.
He said he subsequently picked up MDMA pills from Bobridge’s home and from the gym he ran in West Perth, which he then sold to mates and “randoms” at a Perth nightclub, and also to an undercover police officer.
McGregor said he and Bobridge used "cycling talk" as a form of code.
The jury was shown Facebook messages between the pair in which McGregor said he needed a training program from Bobridge.
"I said I was after a training programme of 20-30 days," said McGregor. "He replied back: 'Can't do that but I can do 15 days'."
McGregor said he took this to mean 15 pills.
Bobridge claimed the messages were about training he was conducting at his gym.
Judge Scott granted Bobridge bail until sentencing in July, but warned him this should not be seen an indication he would not receive a jail term.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.