ATHENS, March 18: Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou have been cleared of key charges connected with missing three doping tests including one on the eve of last year’s Athens Olympics, the Greek Athletics Federation announced on Friday. Kenteris, 31, who won a 200 metres gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Games, and Thanou, 30, a 100 metres silver medallist at the same Olympics, had faced a two-year ban from athletics if they had been found guilty.

On the high profile charge involving the Athens Olympics, Kostas Panagopoulos, head of the disciplinary committee that investigated the charges told reporters:

“The charge of refusal without an explanation to take a doping test cannot be substantiated. In no way was he (Kenteris) informed to appear for a doping test. The same goes for Thanou.”

Kenteris was also found not guilty of missing doping tests in Chicago and Tel Aviv, while Thanou was found guilty of missing only the Chicago test.

“We note the decision of the Greek authorities with interest,” said IAAF spokesman Nick Davies. “Our doping review board will now consider the English version of the decision.”—Reuters