Samoan boxer in court on rape charge

Pauga Lalau, 25, who was arrested Tuesday, was charged with having sexual intercourse without consent. The heavyweight fighter faces a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment if convicted. Police claim Lalau met his victim at the One World Sports Bar, Darling Harbor, in the early hours of Sept. 29 and had sex with her behind the bar despite her asking him to stop.

Olympic sports including boxing, weightlifting and wrestling were staged at Darling Harbor. Lalau did not enter a plea but his defense attorney Ivan Bertoia told Burwood Local Court his client conceded having sex but believed it had been consensual.

Magistrate Geoffrey Bradd ordered Lalau to appear in Sydney's Downing Center Local Court on Oct. 19 for a pretrial hearing. Lalau lost in the preliminary round of the Olympic boxing competition to Russia's Sultanahmed Ibzagimov, who went on to take the silver medal.

(klei/AP)