Press Release
Australian Sports Commission

The Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Sports Commission, Mark Peters, announced today that Gennadi Touretski, a swim coach at the Australian Institute of Sport, had been reinstated to full duty with immediate effect.

Mr. Touretski was suspended on April 10 this year - on full pay - pending the outcome of the hearing of alleged illegal possession of a small quantity of a prohibited substance.

In the ACT Magistrates Court today no evidence was offered and the case was dismissed with costs awarded to Mr. Touretski.

Mr. Peters said the Australian Sports Commission and Australian Institute of Sport welcomed Mr. Touretski back to full duty at the Institute.

He referred to his statement of April 10 which emphasised the decision to suspend Mr. Touretski had not signalled any judgment or reflection on Mr. Touretski.

"We were required to act on any allegation regardless of merit", he said.

"The Commission is pleased that this matter has been finalised and that Mr. Touretski is now able to return to full duty.

"As I said in my statement in April, Mr. Touretski has consistently displayed strong opposition to drugs in sport and supported the anti-doping policies of the AIS, the Australian Sports Drug Agency and the Australian Government.

Mr. Peters said Mr. Touretski and his family had been through a difficult ordeal and would appreciate some privacy to get on with their lives.

"Gennadi naturally regards today's decision as a vindication of his position and affirmation of his statement of innocence made from the outset of this matter.

"He looks forward to getting on with his life and work for which he has been internationally acclaimed, Mr. Peters said.

Arrangements for coaching duties will be completed in time for the resumption of the swimming program, which is currently on a break until October.

Two of Touretski's leading athletes, Michael Klim and Alexandre Popov are at present Recovering from surgery and illness respectively. Klim's ankle was broken prior to the 2001 World Championships and Brisbane Goodwill Games. By the conclusion of the Goodwill Games, still carrying the injuries to his ankle the Australian swimmer had shown that he would continue to be A threat to his rivals. Popov is following a rehabilitation program to restore his immune system after being struck down with a viral infection which forced him to withdraw from the Fukuoka world championships. Both will