Athletes, coach are charged
A prosecutor has filed misdemeanor charges against 25 people in a recent doping scandal involving the country’s weightlifting team, including former head coach Christos Iakovou. Prosecutor Andreas Karaflos ended his investigation into the doping scandal yesterday by charging 11 of the weightlifters who tested positive during an out-of-competition check in March whose results were announced in April. The scandal has made it unlikely that the Greek team will participate in this year’s Beijing Olympics. The former coach will face five charges, the most serious of which is administering a banned substance to the athletes. Other members of the coaching team are also charged with posession and distribution of banned substances. However, it is unlikely the athletes or officials will be sent to jail, as sentences for misdemeanors are usually suspended or can be covered by paying a fine.
