Swimming: Australian swim coach faces drugs charge

Top Australian swim coach Gennadi Touretski will stand trial next month accused of possessing the banned steroid Stanozolol.

Touretski, who has been stood down with full pay from the Australian Institute of Sport, did not appear in a magistrates court Thursday when proceedings were adjourned to May 3.

The 51-year-old coach, who guided Russian Alex Popov to four Olympic gold medals and Australian Michael Klim to four world championship gold medals, faces a charge under the Poisons and Drugs Act which carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison.