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A personal trainer, who is on trial for trying to smuggle Lyrica pills in his luggage, has claimed that the drug is used by his bodybuilding clients as a sports stimulant.
The Egyptian man was charged with possessing and importing pregabalin (Lyrica) with the intention to sell it, but both he and his lawyer have vehemently denied the accusation.
His lawyer yesterday argued before judges at the High Criminal Court that the expat was innocent, and that providing pills to athletes was part of his job.
However, the 40-year-old previously admitted to bringing in the pills for a friend, who was to pay him BD250 in return, since pregabalin is significantly cheaper in Egypt than in Bahrain.
The defendant had arrived on a flight from Egypt in February, and was stopped by Customs officers before leaving the airport, who asked him if he had anything to declare.
Although he said no, the officers reportedly found a jelly supplement bottle containing 193 Lyrica pills, and an additional 162 were found in his trouser pockets, and he was arrested.
During questioning, he stated that he had agreed to bring them for a friend, but the individual was never identified despite the defendant’s attempts to help authorities locate him.
His lawyer appeared before judges to state that her client’s intentions were misunderstood, and that he did not know he was committing a crime.
“The defendant has been working as a personal trainer at a gym for the last eight years, and specialises in bodybuilding,” the lawyer told judges.
“Pregabalin is used as a stimulant or enhancer for bodybuilders,” she claimed.
“When his friend asked him to buy him some, he didn’t know they were illicit, and it is not his first time bringing them to Bahrain with him.
“He didn’t hide the pills or conceal them. In fact, they were placed next to other supplements in his luggage.
“It’s also quite a small quantity – 355 pills only. Three pills are used per day, so a monthly supply is 90 pills.
“My client also co-operated with the police to find and apprehend the friend, and even played a part in a sting operation to catch him, which means he is innocent.”
Despite the lawyer’s claims, pregabalin is not known to be used as a sports performance enhancing drug, since it is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant.
Judges set July 28 as the date a verdict will be issued in the case.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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