Greek sprinters' careers are over says athletics head

Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou will not race again despite being acquitted of charges of missing three dope tests, Greek athletics head Vassili Sevatis said.

"I believe Kenteris and Thanou won't race again," Sevatis told parliament on Tuesday.

"It does not matter if they are found guilty at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the current decision is reversed. The damage to their commercial interests has already been done."

Kenteris, the 2000 Sydney Olympics 100 metres champion and Thanou, the Sydney women's 100 silver medallist, withdrew from last year's Athens Olympics after missing a doping test on the eve of the Games.

They were cleared by a Greek athletics federation disciplinary commission last Friday which ruled that the athletes were victims of incorrect procedures.

The commission decided Kenteris was guilty of missing one test while Thanou had missed two. According to International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules, athletes must miss three or more tests in the space of 18 months.

The commission banned former coach Christos Tzekos for four years for his role in the affair.

Sevastis said both the International Olympic Committee and the IAAF had sent incomplete evidence which was not strong enough to get convictions.

"We were given the task of getting the snake out of its hole but we were not given any evidence to do it with," he said. "So how can you as a Greek with your hand on your heart try the athletes?"

The IAAF suspended the two athletes last year pending the Greek hearing. They are now free to compete while the IAAF doping review board studies the decision.

The pair still have to face trial on charges brought separately by Greek prosecutors of missing the drugs tests and faking a motorcycle accident to avoid testing at the Athens Games.