Wrestling champ pleads guilty to drug charges

An Australian wrestling champion will be sentenced in the ACT Supreme Court next month over charges relating to the seizure of cannabis at five Canberra properties.

Fatos Rama pleaded guilty to possessing and cultivating cannabis, which prosecutors said would be worth around $1 million if it had been fully processed and sold.

The 26-year-old from Miranda in Sydney used a false name to rent five houses in Canberra between 2002 and 2004.

Police said he caused extensive damage to the properties so he could set up sophisticated hydroponics equipment to grow the plants.

Rama, the current national champion in the 84 kilogram wrestling division, was remanded in custody.

He will be sentenced next month.