Greek athletes charged with avoiding test, faking crash

Published on Friday 19 November 2004 00:24

GREEK sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou have been charged with avoiding a drug test on the eve of the Athens Olympics and then faking a motorcycle accident.

A total of eight charges have been brought against the pair, their coach Christos Tzekos, eye-witnesses of the motorcycle incident in August and seven doctors from the Athens KAT hospital after two months of preliminary investigations.

However, the public must now wait for a full investigation into the accusations before any trial can take place.

The two prosecuting officers, Spiros Moutzakitis and Athina Theodoropoulou, released a statement detailing the charges. It said: "Three counts of hindering or obstructing doping control tests - including no-shows in Tel Aviv, Chicago and Athens (Kenteris, Thanou and Tzekos).

"Giving false accounts to the authorities in all three of the above cases (Kenteris, Thanou and Tzekos).

"Charge of eye-witnesses giving false testimonies about the motorcycle accident and the doctors at the KAT hospital for giving false testimonies.

"Charge of giving false confirmation and certification against some of the KAT doctors. Breach of duty charge which involves some of the doctors.

"Charge, on several counts, of moral instigation for false certification and for breach of duty against Kenteris and Thanou.

"The procurement, importation, possession, and storage of prohibited substances - refers only to Tzekos.

"Storage and marketing of food supplements containing pharmaceutical substances without the approval of the Greek pharmaceutical organisation - refers only to Tzekos."

The IAAF confirmed that it has scheduled a meeting for next week where it will discuss the evidence, and it could impose lengthy sporting suspensions on the two athletes.

Under IAAF rules, the athletes could receive a maximum one-year suspension should they be found guilty of three ‘no-shows’.

"We are not sure yet whether a decision can be taken next week but the important thing is that they get the chance to study all the evidence," said Nick Davies, the IAAF director of communications.