Igor Praporshchikov: Former Olympian, wrestler sentenced for drug driving

A former Olympic wrestler, who now leads a Bondi martial arts studio, has been sentenced for a string of drug driving offences.

A former Olympian who represented Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games in wrestling before turning his talents to coaching UFC fighters has been fined for a string of drug driving offences on the streets of the Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Igor Praporshchikov, 46, of North Bondi, was sentenced for drug driving at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday.

According to documents tendered to court Praporshchikov was apprehended by police with cannabis in his system on three separate occasions in the past three months when driving around Bondi.

His lawyer told the court he had recognised he needs to be a good role model for his family and abstain from driving with drugs in his system.

The 46-year-old had not taken drugs since the offences and has now completed the traffic offenders program, the court heard.

Igor Praporshchikov is a personal trainer at Igor MMA.

Igor Praporshchikov outside Waverley Local Court.

“He understands and appreciates the severity of driving under the influence,” Praporshchikov’s lawyer said.

However Magistrate Ross Hudson said the court must consider that the charges were not the former Olympian’s first offences.

“In the space of three months, there are three ‘driving with illicit substances’ offences,” the magistrate said.

“He’s well and truly aware if there’s any drugs in his system, that’s an issue. It’s not his first time before the courts.”

Magistrate Hudson told the court the community must be sent a message that repeated driving offences would not be tolerated.

“The community has to be sick of the repeated offences and the danger to the community,” he said.

Magistrate Hudson convicted Praporshchikov, fined him a combined $4000 and disqualified his drivers licence for 12 months.