Greek sprinters cleared of doping charges

Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou have been cleared of all charges connected with missing three doping tests including one on the eve of last year's Athens Olympics, the Greek Athletics Federation announced yesterday.

However, their former coach Christos Tzekos was banned for four years from any participation in athletics.

In a shock decision that could lead to the pair swiftly returning to the running track if there is no appeal from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Greek authorities said the charges could not be substantiated.

Kenteris, 31, who won a 200 metres gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Games, and Thanou, 30, a 100 metres silver medallist at the same Olympics, had faced a two-year ban from athletics if they had been found guilty.

The sprinters had consistently denied they were at fault and responsible for the Olympic movement's biggest athletics scandal since 100 metres gold medallist Ben Johnson tested positive for drugs at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

However, the pair still have to face a trial on charges brought separately by Greek prosecutors of missing the drug tests and faking a motorcycle accident to avoid testing in the Athens Games case.