Cycling champion on steroids import charge

November 23, 2006

An Australian cyclist said to have dreams of competing in the Olympics and the Tour de France has been convicted of illegally importing performance enhancing drugs.

Australian Customs say the former Former national team member Andrew Wyper, 21,has been convicted in Sydney after a parcel from Indonesia was intercepted last November.

It contained four vials of anabolic steroids, seven vials of human growth hormone and a syringe marked as containing the hormone EPO, sometimes used as a blood doping agent.

Although Wyper was fined only $4000 the bust could end his cycling career.

He was in Australian teams at the 2003 world road championships and the 2003 world junior track championships.