Top swimming coach suspended over steriod claims

Leading swimming coach Gennadi Touretski, who trains Russia’s multi-Olympic gold medallist Alexander Popov and Australia’s Michael Klim, has been suspended.

He was suspended from the Australian Institute of Sport over allegations of drug possession, Australia's federal Sports Minister Jackie Kelly said today.

It is reported that the drugs involved were small quantities of anabolic steroids

.Kelly said she would not comment on the charge of possession of drugs, saying it was a matter for the courts.

She said Touretski had denied the allegation. ‘‘The government will not tolerate drugs in sport and will maintain the most rigorous drug-testing regimen in the world,’’ she said in a statement.

Touretski, a Russian, did not immediately comment on the charges.