Greek duo withdraw from Olympic Games

Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, who missed mandatory drug tests Thursday evening, have withdrawn from the Olympic Games, reports said Saturday in Athens.

A source close to the Greek team said that the cases for the two star sprinters were being discussed at a meeting of the Greek Olympic Committee.

Kenteris, the Olympic 200m gold winner, and Thanou, silver medalist in the women's 100m in Sydney, are due to attend an International Olympic Committee (IOC) hearing on Monday.

The sprinters were unavailable for testing after being allowed to leave the Olympic Village by Greek officials. And both were then involved in a motorcycle accident.

Kenteris had been summoned to appear before Olympic officials at 1230 on Friday, with Thanou half-an-hour later if deemed fit enough to travel.

But the pair were unable to attend after being told to stay in hospital.

After an emergency meeting, IOC president Jacques Rogge ordered the launch of a three-man disciplinary committee, which includes former pole vaulter Sergei Bubka, to investigate the case.