Thanou included in Greek team for Beijing

Sprinter Katerina Thanou was named yesterday in the Greek team for the Beijing Olympics opening next week, setting up a potential confrontation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC has warned Thanou that she would face a disciplinary review to examine her eligibility for the Games if she was named in the squad.

Thanou, the 2000 Olympic 100 metres silver medallist, and fellow sprinter Costas Kenteris were banned for two years afer missing a drugs test on the eve of the 2004 Athens Games.

Yesterday the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) officially entered Thanou as Greece's 100 metres representative in Beijing.

"This is the final list that we have sent to organisers," an HOC official said. "Katerina is on it."

Thanou, 33, has said she wants to race in Beijing.

The HOC said it could not exclude her as she was eligible to compete since December, 2006, when her ban ended and had achieved the qualifying time for her event legitimately.

Her lawyer has said the IOC needs to provide "a compelling justification" for re-opening the case.