Olympic judo champ investigated for sexual assault

VIENNA (AP) — Two-time Olympic judo champion Peter Seisenbacher of Austria is under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting four minor pupils as a coach in Vienna in the early 2000s.

Vienna state prosecution on Wednesday confirmed Austrian media reports, saying the investigation started last year after the four women filed charges against their former coach.

If charged and found guilty, the 54-year-old Seisenbacher could face a prison term of up to 10 years.

Seisenbacher became the first judoka to win gold at two consecutive Olympics, in 1984 in Los Angeles and four years later in Seoul.

Seisenbacher was head coach of the Georgia team when Lasha Shavdatuashvili won gold in the men’s 66-kilogram division at the 2012 London Olympics.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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