Disgraced Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou today plan a spirited defence to save their careers and reputations when they appear at a disciplinary hearing for missed doping tests, their lawyer said.

Kenteris, the 200 metres gold medal winner at the 2000 Sydney Games and Thanou, who won silver in the 100 metres, have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, despite missing three tests, including one on the eve of the Athens Olympics from which they withdrew voluntarily.

"We will continue to argue for their innocence," lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos said yesterday.

Kenteris, 31, and Thanou, 29, the country's most popular athletics champions, could be banned for up to two years for the missed tests, essentially ending their athletics careers.

In a bizarre twist of fate, Thanou could still end up with the Sydney gold medal if US sprinter Marion Jones admits to taking banned substances during those Games five years ago.

Jones, who won gold, is currently under investigation in connection with a US laboratory that distributed banned substances to several high-profile athletes.

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