SA: Dajka vows to compete at Olympics after escaping jail term

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2006
SA: Dajka vows to compete at Olympics after escaping jail term

Troubled cyclist JOBIE DAJKA (pron: DYE-ka) has vowed to ride at the 2008 Olympics
.. after escaping a jail term for a list of charges including assault and theft.

The former world keirin champion has been convicted in an Adelaide court .. of assaulting
national cycling coach MARTIN BARRAS .. been placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond
.. and fined for several other offences.

In June last year Cycling Australia suspended DAJKA's licence to compete for three
years as a result of the assault.

But outside the court .. DAJKA's said the sport's governing body has reinstated his
licence effective from today.

DAJKA .. who was kicked off the Athens Olympic team for lying to an doping inquiry
about injecting legal substances .. says all his offences stemmed from alcohol abuse.

The 23-year-old will return to competition in Tasmania's Christmas carnival and says
he has no doubt he'll win Australian selection next year.

DAJKA's been ordered to write an apology to BARRAS .. and he says he'll soon contact
the national coach.







DAJKA has also been given a three-month suspended jail sentence in the Holden Hill
Magistrates Court .. after pleading guilty to three counts of driving while disqualified.

The 25-year-old also pleaded guilty to nine other counts including theft .. breaching
a bail agreement and other traffic offences .. for which he's been fined more than two
thousand 600 dollars.

Magistrate JONATHON HARRY has told DAJKA his behaviour had been self-destructive.

AAP RTV sl/els/rt

KEYWORD: DAJKA (ADELAIDE)

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