SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Bulgarian media reports former Olympic weightlifting champion Galabin Boevski has been sentenced to nine years and four months in prison by a court in Brazil after 20 pounds of cocaine were found in his luggage.

Boevski, who claims he is innocent, was arrested last October while trying to board a plane at Sao Paulo's international airport with the cocaine in his luggage.

The 37-year-old Boevski won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 69-kilo category, but was banned for eight years by the International Weightlifting Federation for doping in 2004.

More Olympics

Newsday LogoSUBSCRIBEUnlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 5 months
ACT NOWSALE ENDS SOON | CANCEL ANYTIME