Weightlifting: Greek weightlifter charged with drugs offences at Olympics

ATHENS - Greek weightlifter Leonidas Sampanis has been charged with intentionally taking performance-enhancing drugs at the Athens Olympics.

Athens prosecutors also filed charges against the Olympics doping laboratory for a test mistake that resulted in American cyclist Tyler Hamilton retaining his gold medal.

Sampanis, who won a bronze medal in the 62kg category but lost it a few days later after testing positive for high testosterone levels, has protested his innocence, saying a post-competition drink he consumed before giving a drugs sample was spiked.

"The prosecutor charged Sampanis with the misdemeanour of illegally attempting to enhance his in-competition performance by taking a banned substance," said a judicial source.

Sampanis, who won silver in the 1996 and 2000 Games, was the first Greek athlete to win a medal at the Athens Olympics and the first to have it taken away.

He is the third Greek athlete to face charges relating to doping offences at the Games in August. Sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou are accused of avoiding a doping test just before the Games started.

None of the accused is expected to spend any time behind bars as prison sentences for such misdemeanours are usually either suspended or commuted to a fine.

- REUTERS