Kenteris says he's clean

Print article

email story

Related Articles

* New Kenteris investigation

* Greek sprinters buy time

* Kenteris, Thanou fail to pitch

* Kenteris faces year ban

* Greek sprinters 'panicked'

* Greeks bitter over Kenteris

* Kenteris hurt in road crash

* Kenteris misses dope test

Athens - Greece's Olympic 200m champion Kostadinos Kenteris, who faces exclusion from the Athens Olympics for failing to show up at a doping test, insisted on Tuesday he is not a drugs cheat.

"I suffer a great injustice. With all sincerity, I have never made use of illegal substances," Kenteris said.

The sprinter was speaking as he left hospital where he has been treated since Friday for minor injuries suffered in a mysterious motorbike accident hours after he failed to show up at the test.

Kenteris and training partner Ekaterini Thanou have recovered from their injuries which is said to have happened hours after they failed to attend a mandatory drugs test.

They are due to learn their fate at the hands of the IOC's Disciplinary Commission on Wednesday.

Kenteris refused to confirm whether or not he will still take part in the Games should he be cleared by the IOC on Wednesday.

"All the people who have been crucifying me on television are the same people who were standing next to me for photographs after each one of my great successes," Kenteris said.

A Greek sports official has said that Kenteris and Thanou, silver medallist in the 100m at the 2000 Games, panicked when being warned that they might undergo a drugs test in the athletes' village.

"After crucifixion comes resurrection," Kenteris said.