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Greek Olympic medalists guilty of perjury

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-12 09:23

Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou prepares to compete in the 60m event of an indoor track and field meeting in Athens in this February 3, 2007 file photograph. [Photo/Agencies]

Greek Olympic, World and European 200 metres champion Kostas Kenteris runs in Athens' Olympic stadium in this June 10, 2004 file photograph. [Photo/Agencies]

ATHENS - A Greek court found guilty of perjury upon two Greek Olympic medalists on Tuesday accused for orchestrating a motorbike accident reported a few hours before the opening ceremony of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou were sentenced to 31 months in jail for false statements to police regarding the odd accident which occurred in Athens, as the two athletes were due to pass from an unscheduled doping test.

They are expected to appeal the verdict, along with their coach at the time Christos Tzekos who was sentenced on Tuesday to 33 months in jail for the case which created a negative climate for the Games.

After the accident, suspicions fuelled that the two athletes who had won Olympic medals in the the previous Olympic Games of Sydney, could be using drugs under the guidance of their coach.

The court on Tuesday also sentenced to shorter sentences for perjury seven doctors who checked the athletes when they were transferred to a local hospital, as well as two eye witnesses of the accident.

The trial had been repeatedly postponed for various reasons and eventually started on January.