by David P. Greisman
Former lightweight contender Michael Katsidis is facing one count each of “unlawful possession of a restricted drug and possessing dangerous drugs” after police searched his home in Australia and found half a dozen pills that the fighter allegedly did not have a prescription for, according to newspaper The Chronicle.
The pills are meant to help people sleep, the article said.
“However, The Chronicle has been told the tablets did not belong to Katsidis, [his attorney] had obtained a statement from the owner of the tablets, who does have a prescription for the medication,” the article said.
A hearing in the case has been scheduled for July 1. That is a few days before Katsidis’ rematch with Graham Earl. The two fought an entertaining battle back in February 2007, a bout Katsidis won by fifth-round stoppage.
Katsidis, 33, has lost four of his last six fights, getting stopped by Juan Manuel Marquez in 2010, and dropping decisions to Robert Guerrero and Ricky Burns in 2011 and to Albert Mensah in 2012.
He last fought this past March, returning after a layoff of 23 months and making quick work of a 27-17-5 foe named Eddy Comaro. The win brought Katsidis’ record to 29-6 with 24 knockouts.
Here’s the Brisbane Times explaining Katsidis’ time away from the ring:
“Katsidis had a health scare … when a brain scan was thought to show scarring from his many wars in the ring over a career that pitted him against some of the best in the world. But Katsidis has since been cleared and said it was a medical mistake and there were no concerns over his health.”
Katsidis claimed to the Times that the bad brain scan was from doctors not realizing they were looking at residue from a broken eye socket he’d suffered in 2009.
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