Richter
Hairy big footed Swede
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2001
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Greek ace faces ban
From VIKKI ORVICE
in Athens
GREECE’S top sprinter Costas Kenteris was at the centre of a Rio Ferdinand-style drugs row last night.
The 200 metres champion from Sydney four years ago, who beat Darren Campbell into silver, is considered to be the hosts’ best hope of winning a track gold.
And Kenteris, 31, was expected to be handed the honour of lighting the Olympic flame at tonight’s opening ceremony.
He had been due to attend a test with Katerina Thanou, 29 — the Greek women’s 100m silver medallist at Sydney — but both failed to appear.
A missed test would usually result in athletes being suspended from the Games.
But Istvan Gyulai, spokesman of the sport’s governing body the IAAF, said “This doesn’t necessarily constitute a refusal.
“According to our information the Greek team leader was informed but not the athletes.”
Coach Christos Tzekos, who was at the centre of a drugs scandal in Greek football before working with the two athletes, insisted they were at their homes in Athens at the time of the scheduled test.
But other sources claimed the pair were in hospital after being involved in a motorbike accident.
Thanou, one of only three women to go under 11sec for the 100m this year, and Kenteris have been called to a disciplinary hearing by IOC officials.
Greek team bosses said they had made a written appeal to the IOC to give the two athletes another chance to undergo tests.
Manchester United defender Ferdinand was banned from football for eight months after missing a drugs test last year and will not return until next month.
I wonder if he will get banned or if Jaques Rogge will pressure the Greeks to ban him
From VIKKI ORVICE
in Athens
GREECE’S top sprinter Costas Kenteris was at the centre of a Rio Ferdinand-style drugs row last night.
The 200 metres champion from Sydney four years ago, who beat Darren Campbell into silver, is considered to be the hosts’ best hope of winning a track gold.
And Kenteris, 31, was expected to be handed the honour of lighting the Olympic flame at tonight’s opening ceremony.
He had been due to attend a test with Katerina Thanou, 29 — the Greek women’s 100m silver medallist at Sydney — but both failed to appear.
A missed test would usually result in athletes being suspended from the Games.
But Istvan Gyulai, spokesman of the sport’s governing body the IAAF, said “This doesn’t necessarily constitute a refusal.
“According to our information the Greek team leader was informed but not the athletes.”
Coach Christos Tzekos, who was at the centre of a drugs scandal in Greek football before working with the two athletes, insisted they were at their homes in Athens at the time of the scheduled test.
But other sources claimed the pair were in hospital after being involved in a motorbike accident.
Thanou, one of only three women to go under 11sec for the 100m this year, and Kenteris have been called to a disciplinary hearing by IOC officials.
Greek team bosses said they had made a written appeal to the IOC to give the two athletes another chance to undergo tests.
Manchester United defender Ferdinand was banned from football for eight months after missing a drugs test last year and will not return until next month.
I wonder if he will get banned or if Jaques Rogge will pressure the Greeks to ban him