IAAF to appeal Greek sprinters test decision

The world governing body for athletics has decided to appeal against the acquittal of Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris (picture) and Katerina Thanou on charges related to missing three doping tests.

The athletes were cleared by their national federation on March 18 in a shock decision after the Greek authorities said the pair were victims of incorrect procedures in notifying them of doping tests, including one just before the Athens Olympics.

The athletes spectacularly withdrew from last year's Games days before they were due to race in front of their home crowd.

They are now suspended again pending the result of the appeal by the International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) against the national federation's decision to clear them of anti-doping rule violations.

"The Doping Review Board has concluded that the decision is erroneous and the IAAF will now refer both athletes' cases to arbitration before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on a timely basis under IAAF Rules," the IAAF said.

"The CAS decision in both cases will be final and binding." Kenteris, 31, who won a 200m gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Games, and Thanou, 30, a 100m silver medallist at the same Olympics, face maximum two-year bans if found guilty.

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