Posted: December 2, 2004

Athletics: IAAF Charges Kenteris, Thanou, Tzekos With Doping Violations

By Bob Ramsak, Track Profile

(c) 2004 Track Profile all rights reserved TrackProfile.com

2000 Olympic champion Konstantinos Kenteris, 2000 Olympic silver medallist Ekatherina Thanou and their coach, Christos Tzekos, were charged with doping violations today by the IAAF, the sport's international governing body. Below is an IAAF release, in full, announcing the decision.

Monaco - In August 2004, the IAAF Council appointed the Doping Review Board to investigate whether evidence exists of the commission of Doping Violations under IAAF Rules by the Greek athletes, Mr Konstantinos Kenteris and Ms Ekatherina Thanou and by their Greek Coach, Mr Christos Tzekos.

Based on its investigations to date, the Doping Review Board has concluded that evidence does exist that Mr Kenteris and Ms Thanou committed Doping Violations under IAAF Rules. These Doping Violations include whereabouts information violations which led to missed tests against the athletes in Tel Aviv, Chicago and Athens and a failure to submit to doping control in Athens on 12 August 2004. Letters have been sent to the Greek Federation today outlining the charges against both athletes.

The Doping Review Board has also concluded that evidence exists that Mr Tzekos has committed Doping Violations under IAAF Rules. These Doping Violations include distributing prohibited substances, assisting in the use of prohibited substances and tampering with the doping control process. Similarly, a letter has been sent to the Greek Federation today outlining the charges against Mr Tzekos.

The Doping Review Board has conducted an extensive Inquiry over the course of the last 3 months in co-ordination with the IOC, WADA and other anti-doping organizations and with the assistance of the Greek civil authorities.

Disciplinary proceedings will now be initiated against the above persons in accordance with the standard procedures set out in IAAF Rules. The persons concerned will be given the opportunity to respond to the charges against them by 16 December 2004 and, if their explanations are rejected, they will be provisionally suspended by the IAAF pending a hearing before the relevant disciplinary tribunal of the Greek Federation. As provided under IAAF Rules, there will be a right of appeal from the decision of the Greek Federation to CAS.

The Doping Review Board will continue to investigate whether there is evidence of the commission of further Doping Violations or other breaches of IAAF Rules by the above persons or any other person that may have a connection with the above mentioned Doping Violations.

Now that a disciplinary process has commenced, the IAAF will make no further comment in this matter until appropriate.

Get a FREE trial Subscription to
The TRACK PROFILE Report TODAY!