Australian boxer Harry Garside has questioned the behaviour of police after he was dramatically arrested at the airport on Tuesday.
Garside has been charged with common assault after being met by NSW Police at Sydney Airport on Tuesday and was taken in for questioning over allegations of domestic violence.
Garside was travelling home from Johannesburg with his father Shaun after finishing runner-up on the reality TV show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here in South Africa.
Upon leaving Mascot Police Station, Garside was met by waiting reporters and told Channel 7, “Of course” when asked if he would be fighting the charges.
On Wednesday he again addressed the matter and said in an Instagram post police do not have all the facts.
“The conduct of police in the presence of media at Sydney International Airport yesterday took me completely by surprise,” he wrote.
“I categorically deny the allegations of violence and dispute the account given to police.
“I have nothing to hide and will defend myself against this charge.
“The police have not been provided with all of the facts and I am confident that my reputation will be vindicated through the legal process.”
NSW Police said on Tuesday night: “A 25-year-old man was arrested at Sydney International Airport about 2.40pm today (Tuesday 2 May 2023), following an investigation by officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command into reports of an alleged domestic violence-related incident involving a 32-year-old woman.
“He has been taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with common assault (DV).”
Garside was granted conditional bail and will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on May 24.
Garside was interviewed over an alleged incident in March with his ex-girlfriend Ash Ruscoe at her Bondi apartment.
Garside dated Ruscoe, a personal trainer, for about 18 months before they split earlier this year.
During their relationship the pair were spotted at several public events including last year’s GQ Men of the Year Awards in November.
Garside’s boxing career is at a crossroads after he split with legendary trainer Johnny Lewis and decided to return to the amateurs after winning three professional fights.
The lightweight fighter won gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.
He is also facing a legal battle over comments he made about his boxing manager on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
Speaking on the reality show, Garside said he felt like he was made to turn professional because the team around him saw him as a “cash cow”.
“I hated turning professional, just people around me who wanted me because I was a potential cash cow,” Garside said.
The Daily Telegraph reports boxing manager Peter Mitrevski Jnr was offended by the comments and is now prepared to sue Garside over alleged defamation and breach of contract.
Mitrevski has taken steps to launch defamation action against Channel 10 and Garside over the comments made in an early episode of the show.
He also alleges Garside has broken his management contract and a separate deal with promoters No Limit Boxing.
Garside was set to headline a fight card in Melbourne but abandoned the bout to go on the reality TV show.
Mitrevski became Garside’s agent after the Tokyo Olympics and paired him up with Lewis while Garside’s public profile skyrocketed.
Garside has returned to amateur boxing and recently contested several fights in Europe in his return to the ring, and is considering fighting as an amateur at next year’s Paris Olympics.
The lightweight fighter told news.com.au in April he was considering three different options for his future, including walking away from boxing altogether.
“One, stay professional [in boxing] and turn away from my heart, but potentially set my family up for life with money,” he began.
“Option two, try go to the Olympics next year, try and win a gold medal and honour myself, honour my country, honour my heart, and honour my pride – but have no money.
“Or option three, walk away from boxing altogether and focus my energy on something else.
“I‘m sitting on a bit of a lottery ticket right now, where I realistically could cash in on my boxing career. There’s a big potential that I could make a lot of money. So there, of course, is that pressure.
“I want to set my family up and I want to buy my mum and dad a house. And I want my kids to eat well. Of course I want that.”“But is it to the detriment of [my] happiness? That’s the dilemma.”