Harmone issue: Uzbek official pleads not guilty

Tuesday, September 19, 2000, 18:23 [IST]

Sydney: An Uzbekistan Olympic official pleaded not guilty in a Sydney court on Tuesday to charges of importing banned human growth hormone.

Sergey Voynov, 45, was detained at Sydney airport last week and later charged with carrying 15 vials of the performance-enhancing drug.

Voynov was not in court to enter his plea, and the case has been adjourned to September 17.

If convicted, he faces a fine of up to A$100,000 ($55,600) or a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Uzbekistan National Olympic Committee chief Sabirjan Ruziev has said Voynov needed the drugs for a skin disorder and declared them on arrival.Voynov has since been treated in hospital for cardiac problems.

(c) Reuters Limited. Click here for Restrictions

Topics: olympics 2000, uzbekistan, olympic official, guilty, sydney court, tuesday, banned human growth hormone

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