Greek sprinters, IAAF strike deal on doping case

Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou and the International Association of Athletics Federations have struck a surprise deal over the infamous doping case stemming from the 2004 Athens Olympics.

"A deal was made that puts an end to a complex case," their lawyer Gregory Ioannidis told Reuters yesterday.

"The terms of the agreement are satisfactory for both sides. The IAAF were very helpful towards the athletes and they will support their effort to return to competition."

The IAAF yesterday withdrew an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and said the athletes had accepted they violated anti-doping rules by missing three drugs tests prior to the 2004 Athens Olympics.

In a statement the IAAF said the pair would be eligible to compete again on December 22 this year.

The IAAF provisionally suspended the two Greeks on December 22, 2004, pending a Greek disciplinary investigation. But once they were cleared by the domestic probe in March last year, the IAAF lodged an appeal with CAS.