Posted: August 18, 2004

Olympics: IOC decision regarding the cases of Konstantinos Kenteris and Ekatarina Thanou

The Disciplinary Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which was set up on 12 August to investigate the nature and circumstances of alleged anti-doping rule violations by Konstantinos Kenteris and Ekaterini Thanou, met this morning in the Hilton Hotel in Athens.

The Commission heard both athletes and their coach Christos Tzekos and noted their decision to withdraw and surrender their Olympic accreditation cards. This decision means that all three will not take part in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and that the IOC is no longer the authority responsible for issuing potential sanctions related to the Athens Olympic Games. The IOC Disciplinary Commission immediately presented its report and recommendations to the IOC Executive Board which took the following decisions:

1. to take note of the withdrawal and surrender of the Olympic identity and accreditation cards of the athletes Mr Konstantinos Kenteris and Ms Ekaterini Thanou, as well as that of their coach Mr Christos Tzekos;
2. to refer the cases of Mr Konstantinos Kenteris and Ms Ekaterini Thanou to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for further action including possible sanctions against both athletes;
3. to request that the IAAF takes action, including possible sanctions, against Mr Christos Tzekos and all other persons and organisations governed by the rules of the IAAF and who may have contributed to the above-mentioned alleged anti-doping rule violations;
4. to request the IOC Disciplinary Commission to submit to the IOC Executive Board a report on the wider circumstances, in particular all acts or omissions by any officials or other persons accredited at the Athens Olympic Games, in relation to the information management and chain of command concerning the communication of the Doping Control Notification to Mr Konstantinos Kenteris and Ms Ekaterini Thanou on 12 August 2004; and
5. that any participation of Mr Konstantinos Kenteris and Ms Ekaterini Thanou as well as Mr Christos Tzekos at any further edition of the Olympic Games shall be subject to a new procedure in front of the IOC.

The full decision follows.

International Olympic Committee - Executive Board

Decision Regarding Mr Konstaninos Kenteris, Born On 11 July 1973, Athlete, Greece (Athletics)
And
Ms Ekaterini Thanou, Born On 1 February 1975, Athlete, Greece (Athletics)

1. By letters dated 12 August 2004, the IOC President set up a Disciplinary Commission consisting of Dr Thomas Bach (Chairman), Mr Denis Oswald and Mr Sergey Bubka in order to investigate the nature and circumstances of alleged violations of the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens in 2004 (the “Rules”) committed by Mr Konstaninos Kenteris and Ms Ekaterini Thanou (both being referred to collectively as the “athletes”). The alleged violations essentially consisted of failing without compelling justification to submit to sample collection after notification as per Article 2.3 of the Rules and to provide required whereabouts information as set forth in Articles 2.4 and 5.5 of the Rules. The alleged violations would have taken place during the Period of the Olympic Games, starting on 30 July 2004.
2. The Disciplinary Commission immediately began its investigation and held three hearings on 13, 16 and 18 August 2004 in Athens. It gathered information and evidence regarding the above-mentioned alleged violations, in particular by collecting documents, summoning witnesses, hearing representatives of the Greek delegation and checking facts. Both athletes were summoned to appear on 13 and 16 August but did not appear. They gave medical reasons for this non-appearance.
3. On 18 August 2004, both athletes, who appeared for the first time in front of the Disciplinary Commission, declared their final withdrawal from the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens in 2004 (hereafter the “Athens Olympic Games”) and surrendered their Olympic identity and accreditation cards to the Disciplinary Commission.
4. The Rules are applicable to any athlete who participates or who may potentially participate in the Athens Olympic Games. Athletes who have withdrawn from the Athens Olympic Games prior to their competition are no longer participants. As a consequence, their exclusion from the Athens Olympic Games – the only possible sanction at this stage if they had not withdrawn from these Games – cannot be imposed. However, pursuant to the same provision, the IOC may declare them ineligible for any future edition of the Olympic Games.
5. In the instances of both athletes, each of them having withdrawn and surrendered their Olympic identity and accreditation cards on 18 August 2004, the current procedure initiated against them by the IOC is hereby brought to an end with respect to sanctions concerning the Athens Olympic Games.
6. The seriousness of the alleged violations which, if established, would constitute serious anti-doping violations, such as refusing or failing without compelling justification to submit to sample collection (Article 2.3 of the Rules) and/or violation of the requirements regarding athletes’ availability for testing including failure to provide required whereabouts information (Articles 2.4 and 5.5 of the Rules) is of such a nature that both cases shall be referred to the IAAF, which is the competent body for any further action including possible sanctions against both athletes.
7. The circumstances of these cases suggest that Mr.Christos Tzekos, coach of both athletes, may have contributed to the alleged apparent anti-doping rule violations. Inasmuch as Mr. Tzekos - who has only been summoned as a witness - has surrendered his accreditation. His exclusion from the Athens Games could not be pronounced. However, the IOC will submit his ineligibility for any future edition of the Olympic Games to a further procedure.
8. On 18 August 2004, the Disciplinary Commission, having taken note of the withdrawal and surrender of accreditations of both athletes, submitted its report and recommendations to the IOC Executive Board

In view of the above, and in accordance with the recommendations submitted by the Disciplinary Commission, pursuant with Rule 25 of the Olympic Charter,

The Executive Board Of The International Olympic Committee Decides
1. to take note of the withdrawal and surrender of the Olympic identity and accreditation cards of the athletes Mr Konstantinos Kenteris and Ms Ekaterini Thanou, as well as that of their coach Mr Christos Tzekos;
2. to refer the cases of Mr Konstantinos Kenteris and Ms Ekaterini Thanou to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for further action including possible sanctions against both athletes;
3. to request that the IAAF takes action, including possible sanctions, against Mr Christos Tzekos and all other persons and organisations governed by the rules of the IAAF and who may have contributed to the above-mentioned alleged anti-doping rule violations;
4. to request the IOC Disciplinary Commission to submit to the IOC Executive Board a report on the wider circumstances, in particular all acts or omissions by any officials or other persons accredited at the Athens Olympic Games, in relation to the information management and chain of command concerning the communication of the Doping Control Notification to Mr Konstantinos Kenteris and Ms Ekaterini Thanou on 12 August 2004; and
5. that any participation of Mr Konstantinos Kenteris and Ms Ekaterini Thanou as well as Mr Christos Tzekos at any further edition of the Olympic Games shall be subject to a new procedure in front of the IOC.

Athens, 18 August 2004

On behalf of the IOC Executive Board
Jacques ROGGE
IOC President

Urs LACOTTE
Director General