Kenteris hurt in road crash

2004-08-13 10:26

Athens - Olympic 200m champion Kostadinos Kenteris and training partner Ekaterini Thanou were injured in a motorbike accident here hours after missing a drugs test which could see them thrown out of the Athens Olympics, an official said.

The pair suffered slight injuries and were taken to hospital by their coach, Christos Tzekos, who had lent them his motorbike to return to the Olympic Village, Greek Athletics Federation President Vassilis Sevastis said.

Kenteris, 31, who became a national hero when he won a surprise gold medal in the 200m at the Sydney Olympics, is due to face an IOC inquiry on Friday into why he and Thanou, 29, failed to turn up for a doping test on Thursday.

Sevastis said the accident occurred when "the motorbike slipped on the road" in the southern Athens suburb of Glyfada. The condition of the two athletes did not give rise to concern, he added.

Coach Tzekos said after the accident: "This was the worst thing that could have happened to them." He said the crash was probably due to their worrying about the dope test and expressed concern for their psychological condition.

- AFP