Athens doping rules 'followed to letter'

ATHENS - Despite following all the correct procedures dope testers still failed to find Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou on the eve of the Athens Olympics, the head of the athletes' village doping centre said yesterday.

"All procedures were followed correctly and according to the rules and regulations of the International Olympic Committee and WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency]," said Dimitris Valassiadis, speaking on the first day of a disciplinary hearing.

Kenteris, the defending 200m champion and Thanou, who won the women's 100m silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Games, withdrew from last August's Games.

The two sprinters and their former coach, Christos Tzekos, who attended the seven-hour closed-door session, have repeatedly denied missing the test, blaming what they call incorrect notification procedures. They are due to testify at the hearing.

They have been suspended by the International Association of Athletics Associations (IAAF) for missing three tests, including the one scheduled for Athens.

The disciplinary committee has been set up by the Greek Athletics Federation (SEGAS) following the IAAF suspension.

Kenteris, 31, and Thanou, 29, could be banned up to two years for the missed tests.

They also face a criminal hearing in Greece over the missed tests and have been charged with faking a motorbike crash on the day of the Athens test which led to their spending four days in hospital.

- REUTERS