Weightlifter Galabin Boevski confessed Thursday and said he would comply fully with the authorities investigating him, according to the Bulgarian new agency BGNES.
Boevski was detained at Sao Paolo airport while attempting to board a plane to Spain en route to Bulgaria with his daughter Sara, who had competed in an international tennis tournament. She was eventually allowed to return home.
The 36-year-old was named Bulgaria's athlete of the year in 1999, 2000 and 2001. He won a gold medal for weightlifting in the 69 kilogram class at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Boevski also took home gold medals at world weightlifting championships in 1999 and 2001, in addition to the European championships in 1999, 2002 and 2003.
Boevski has been sanctioned in the past for drug abuse. The World Weightlifting Federation banned him for eight years after he was caught tampering with his urine sample at the 2003 world championships. In 1995 he was also caught and punished for doping.
The former champion has reportedly requested a Bulgarian attorney. Diplomats at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have also sent his relatives a list of some of Brazil’s best lawyers. The ministry says Brazilian lawyers will offer a better defense, according to Sofia News Agency Novinite. Boevski could face up to 15 years in jail.
Data from Bulgaria’s business registry reveals that Boevski has a lot of debt, as each of his companies report major losses, according to Bulgarian media. His companies include Boevski 2000, and M Unit, Boevski and Boev and Scandal VIP.
