Former surfing champion Mark Occhilupo is being sued by his former accountant over Billabong shares he acquired as part of an endorsement deal.

According to the Courier Mail, Noel Holmes claims he gave Occhilupo $50,000 to buy shares for him in 2000. The shares were bought in 2000 as part of a special offer from Billabong to the surfers it sponsored at the time.

Occhilupo says the shares, which may now be worth up to $200,000, belong to him. Occhilupo, an Australian surfer, won the 1999 World surfing champion title.