Sprinters' verdict delayed by two weeks

Greek sports authorities have postponed by two weeks the judgement on the country's top two sprinters for missing doping tests, including one on the eve of last year's Athens Olympics, their lawyer said yesterday.

Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, facing career-ending bans for allegedly avoiding drugs tests three times in two months, were expected to learn their fate by the end of February but late evidence from them has pushed the date back.

"A decision is now expected by around mid-March," lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos told Reuters. "The end of February deadline is no longer on the cards."

Kenteris, 31, who won the men's 200 metres title at the 2000 Sydney Games and Thanou, 30, who won the women's 100 metres silver medal at Sydney, face a maximum two-year ban if found guilty.

The athletes, who spectacularly withdrew from the Athens Olympics days before they were scheduled to race in front of a home crowd, have been suspended by the IAAF for missing the three tests, including the one scheduled for Athens.

The IAAF said the sprinters had failed to provide samples for tests in Tel Aviv, Chicago and Athens and ordered SEGAS to hold a disciplinary inquiry.

The athletes also face a criminal hearing in Greece over the missed drugs tests and have been charged with faking a motorcycle accident on the day of the Athens test, which led to them spending four days in hospital.

They will miss this week's European indoor athletics championships in Madrid.