Disgraced Olympian Jack Bobridge jailed for drug trafficking
Just three years ago, South Australian-born cyclist Jack Bobridge stood on the dais at the Rio Olympics with a silver medal around his neck. Now he’s going to jail.
Disgraced Olympian Jack Bobridge — who was caught supplying ecstasy pills in an undercover sting targeting Perth’s nightclub and bars — has suffered a “dramatic fall from grace” after he was jailed for 4 1/2 years today.
The three-time Olympic cyclist was convicted after a District Court trial of supplying a total 301 MDMA pills to former elite cyclist Alex McGregor on four occasions between March and July 2017 — the year after he retired from the sport.
Bobridge, 29, who still maintains his innocence, denied he made a deal with McGregor to sell ecstasy together and instead claimed he was his dealer, detailing a drug habit that spanned his professional career.
But his claims were rejected by the jury, with the court today told McGregor ran the “wholesale” operation, which involved the pair using “cycling terms” in the exchange of drugs.
McGregor — who was given a 40 per cent reduction in his sentence for agreeing to give evidence against Bobridge — was caught on-selling pills to an undercover detective, with the pair being watched as part of Operation Inception.
During the trial, Gawler-raised Bobridge said he started using cocaine and ecstasy in 2010 after securing a professional cycling contract in Europe, saying his use continued after he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis to deal with the pain.
That condition lead to his retirement after the Rio Olympics, where he won a silver medal in 2016.
Bobridge revealed he would use drugs just days before competing in events and named two Australian teammates — whose identities were suppressed — who he claimed also used cocaine.
Judge Scott said he had “no doubt” his account of substance abuse during his career was credible.
Defence counsel Sam Vandongen today said that during his time in Europe, Bobridge had not only sporting success but was being rewarded financially, saying that attracted “somewhat of a celebrity status”.
“In Europe, cycling is very different to here, they are treated as superstars,” he said.
“That sometimes leads them to be involved in things they ought not be involved in.”
Mr Vandongen said it was “quite remarkable” Bobridge was able to “achieve what he was able to, particularly in Rio, while engaging in that behaviour”.
He said the former South Australian was not a “selfish elite sportsman”, saying he gave back to the community, with a cancer ward bearing his name at Adelaide Hospital.
“He has suffered from a dramatic fall from grace,” he said.
Prosecutor Joel Grinceri said the “drug dealing enterprise” between Bobridge and McGregor was “clearly in its infancy” and was “clearly intended to be an ongoing business and enterprise”.
“And but for the incompetency of Mr McGregor, being the street-level dealer, Mr Bobridge’s drug dealing business would have undoubtedly continued into the future,” he said.
Mr Grinceri accepted Bobridge was of good prior character, but said that needed to be “tempered” with his admissions he was a heavy user of illicit drugs while competing for his country.
“His drug of choice seemed to be cocaine, because it was easy to avoid testers during his cycling career,” he said.
“During this period, he was a professional athlete, he represented Australia in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games and world titles.”
On top of winning silver at the London and Rio Olympics, he also competed in Beijing and at three Commonwealth Games, as well as Australian and world titles.
In sentencing, Judge Scott described the father’s spiral from celebrated sportsman, to drug addict, then supplier, as a “tragedy”.
Judge Scott said Bobridge was like a lot of young athletes, both locally and internationally, who “are subject to a number of pressures for which you may not be equipped”.
“That may provide some explanation as to why you were a user of drugs, but no explanation for why you’d be a prolific user and then a dealer of ecstasy,” he said.
“It’s one thing to be a user … and it’s one thing to be a supplier.”
Bobridge was declared a drug trafficker. He will become eligible for parole after serving 2 ½ years behind bars.