Ulf Karlsson, who was the head coach of Sweden's national athletics team from 2001 to 2004, was fined 24,000 kronor (£2,171) for comments he made during a panel discussion at a sports conference in April. Karlsson said he thought Ibrahimovic, 34, must have doped in order to bulk up so quickly at Juve.

"Zlatan gained 10 kilos of muscle in six months at Juventus. That is impossible in such a short time," Karlsson said.

He made similar comments in an interview with local newspaper Nya Wermlands-Tidning, saying: "I think he was doped. I am convinced."

A district court in Varmland, in west-central Sweden, on Monday convicted Karlsson of defaming the player with the comments made during the panel discussion.

However, he was acquitted over the interview with the newspaper as Swedish law offers more protection to remarks made to journalists.

"I'm glad the district court has agreed with me that he should not be convicted for what he has said to a journalist. That's an important principle," Karlsson's attorney Johan Eriksson told public broadcaster SVT.

Ibrahimovic played for Juventus from 2004 to 2006 after leaving Ajax.