Olympic lightweight professional boxer Michael Katsidis is to be released from jail after pleading guilty to drug trafficking offences.
Katsidis, 43, fought for Australia at the 2000 Olympics and won the WBO interim lightweight championship in 2007.
He was on parole after being sentenced for other drug offences in 2021 when he became involved in a "sophisticated" cocaine syndicate.
The court heard Katsidis was in charge of the monitoring and distribution of cash and drugs between the syndicate and had the code to a safe where the drugs and cash were stored.
Katsidis would also source cocaine from outside the syndicate and supplied throughout the trafficking period.
In 2022, police raided a safe house at the Gold Coast, where Katsidis was known to be living at a few nights a week. Inside a safe in the house, police found more than 8 grams of cocaine and $42,850 in cash.
"Drugs destroy lives. Not only of those of the people who use them, but also the people that they surround," Justice Catherine Muir said in sentencing.
"By your actions, you fed into the scourge of drugs in society, a society in which your four children are going to grow up in."
'He bitterly regrets his conduct'
Katsidis's barrister Wayne Tolton told the court his client's life spiralled out of control when his brother, Stathi Katsidis, who was renowned as one of Australia's greatest jockeys, died in 2010.
"You have had, it seems, a drug addiction since 2010 when your brother passed away," Justice Muir said.
"You are a man that has experienced the highs and lows of life. You were an Olympian boxer who represented your country and you have been the champion of the world in boxing.
"Against that, you have also experienced the lows of now a lengthy period of imprisonment."
Mr Tolton said his client was determined to get his life back on track and had lined up a job at a gym.
"He's had 22 months almost to reflect upon the stupidity of his actions. He bitterly regrets his conduct. He's embarrassed, ashamed, but more importantly, determined to turn his life around," Mr Tolton said.
"[He plans to get] back to his grassroots as an amateur and professional coach, working in a gymnasium and having a positive effect on the youth that go to that gym."
Mr Tolton also told the court Katsidis never made any money from the drug syndicate and only ever received drugs as a form of payment.
"He wasn't involved in the creation of that entity, it was already well established," Mr Tolton said.
"He wasn't an employee as some of the other people were. At all times, he was drug-addicted and drug-affected."
'You will be an easy target'
Justice Muir sentenced Katsidis to four years and six months in prison, but having already served more than 660 days in custody he was handed a suspended sentence and granted release from prison.
As a condition of his release, Katsidis cannot commit another offence within the next five years.
"You have the balance of a considerable period of over two-and-a-half years [in jail] hanging over your head. If you step out of line and commit an offence punishable by imprison, you can expect to be back in custody," Justice Muir said.
"Because of your sporting achievements and because of the fact you have gone to prison, you will be an easy target so it will be hard to stay away from negative influences."