Former world champion boxer Michael Katsidis says drug charge helped him face addiction

Former world champion boxer Michael Katsidis says he is recovering from his addiction thanks to a drugs charge that forced him to own up to his choices after a dramatic downfall.

Former world champion boxer Michael Katsidis has vowed to turn his life around after being sentenced for the possession of dangerous drugs, saying he hopes the crime will be no more than a “speed bump” in his life.

Katsidis, 41, faced the Brisbane Supreme Court for sentence on Tuesday after earlier pleading guilty to a single charge of possessing dangerous drugs.

Crown prosecutor Ronald Swanwick said in April 2019, police raided a Browns Plains home where they discovered 34 plastic bags filled with the drug ice hidden inside the agitator and drum of a washing machine.

The bags each contained between 22 and 28 grams of methylamphetamine with a combined weight of 911 grams.

Michael Katsidis, Former pro boxer, after being sentenced in the Supreme Court for possessing dangerous drugs, Tuesday, 5th October, 2021. Photo: Steve Pohlner

The court heard Katsidis had stayed at the home for a period of days prior to the raid and his fingerprints were found on seven of the 34 bags which the court accepted amounted to a “fleeting” possession of the drugs.

Defence barrister Wayne Tolton said the case against Katsidis was “weak”, with the prosecution only able to prove he had touched plastic bags but that the former pro boxer had chosen not to fight the charge because he wanted to “confront his problems”.

He said Katsidis had a strong support network including that of his family and tendered a number of references, including one from Melbourne Storm chairman Matthew Tripp.

Mr Tolton said Katsidis endured a number of tragedies including the death of his brother Stathi, a champion jockey who died of a drug overdose 10 years ago.

“In 2010 he was in Las Vegas preparing for a very big boxing match and he was informed of his brother’s drug overdose,” Mr Tolton said.

“He and his brother were extremely close and he subsequently lost that fight and … his boxing career crumbled as one would expect.”

Mr Tolton said Katsidis turned to methylamphetaime use.

“Mr Katsidis was an addict and would have continued to be an addict had he not made the decision to plead guilty to this charge before the court today,” he said.

“He decided to accept responsibility for being involved in the drug world and to make amends and put things right.”

Justice Jean Dalton sentenced Katsidis to a two year jail term with immediate parole release.

Outside court, Katsidis said he was “grateful to be in recovery” and “now it’s really time to turn my life around”.

“My life’s had a massive turnaround for the positive for the future,” he said.

“If I can go to places where I think I can go this is going to be nothing but a speed bump in my life.

“I’m going to really progress forward and the boxing fans and people who have seen my career are going to see this and see how far I go.”

--