Katerina Thanou will face IOC disciplinary review in Beijing
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday warned sidelined Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou she would face a disciplinary review to examine her eligibility to compete in the Beijing Olympics. Thanou, who was banned in 2004 for two years for anti-doping rule violations stemming from that year’s Athens Olympics, said late on Wednesday she would race in Beijing after meeting qualifying standards. «If it is confirmed that she is on the list selected by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), a disciplinary commission will meet in Beijing next week to discuss this,» IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said. «We have informed the Hellenic Olympic Committee by letter this week (that) should it select Thanou, we intend to initiate a new procedure.» The HOC, which unlike some other national committees does not have an Olympic lifetime ban for drug offenders, confirmed yesterday that Thanou was on their final list of athletes for the August 8-24 Games. «She is on the list. I don’t know if it was sent to organizers yesterday or will be sent today, but she is on this list,» a HOC official told Reuters. Thanou, who together with fellow sprinter and medals hope Costas Kenteris caused the biggest Olympic doping scandal in years when they missed a drug test on the eve of the 2004 Games, was forced to withdraw in disgrace and was then banned. She has been eligible to compete since December 2006 but has raced only occasionally since then. Qualifying time Thanou, who won silver in the 100 meters at the Sydney 2000 Games but is now, at 33, well past her prime, achieved her Beijing qualifying time a few days ago at a meeting on the island of Crete. The IOC had said in 2004 that since the two athletes had surrendered their accreditations voluntarily, their case was closed but the body retained the right to review their eligibility for future Games. Thanou’s lawyer, Gregory Ioannidis, said she had every right to compete. «She has been selected for the Greek team for track and field after successful qualification and this is a right given to her by the Olympic Charter and the regulations of the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations),» he said in an e-mailed statement to Reuters. «I would recommend prudence and a careful study of the facts and the law for those who would try to stop her. The IOC must produce a compelling justification for opening the file again. In any other case, a series of violations would arise. They do not need me to tell them this. They have decent lawyers,» Ioannidis said. (Reuters)
