Five times Olympic gold medallist Alex Popov is supporting his coach of 11 years, Gennadi Touretski, who has been charged with possessing banned anabolic steroid drugs.

The Russian swimmer said he had never had cause to question his coach.

He said he had had an association, both socially and professionally, with Touretski for 11 years, and he had never had any need to question his credibility or his ethics.

The coach will face Canberra Magistrates Court tomorrow on a charge under the
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