15 August 2004	Sunday	28 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

ATHENS, Aug 14: The Greek Olympic Committee (HOC) announced Saturday they were withdrawing star athletes Kostadinos Kenteris and Ekaterini Thanou from their Olympic team two days after they failed to show up for a mandatory drugs test.

The matter will next go before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday and the world body will decide on whether the pair should be excluded from the Olympics.

"The executive committee of the HOC ... decided by majority to exclude the two athletes (Kenteris, Thanou) and their coach from the Olympic team until the responsible IOC organ decides," HOC president Lambis Nikolaou told reporters after a marathon, 4-hour session.

However Nikolau said he had disagreed with the decision to temporarily withdraw Kenteris, the Olympic 200metres champion, and Thanou, the women's 100m silver medallist at the 2000 Games, and was the only member of the committee to vote against the decision.

"My view was that we should have revoked their (accreditation) cards immediately and not wait for the IOC decision," said Nikolaou, who is a member of the IOC and on the executive board which will ultimately decide their fate.-AFP