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Athens 400m hurdles winner Halkia banned for doping

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-28 09:55

ATHENS -- Greek hurdler Fani Halkia was given a two-year ban for using banned substance, the Greek Athletics Federation (SEGAS) said.

File photo of  Greek hurdler Fani Halkia, gold medalist in the 400 meters hurdles at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. [Agencies]

Halkia, who won the gold medal in the 400 meters hurdles at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, was tested positive for the banned steroid methyltrienolone and was expelled from the Beijing Olympic Games this year.

SEGAS said that at a board meeting on Wednesday, SEGAS ruled the ban was effective from August when Halkia was expelled from the Olympics.

Halkia, along with fellow sprinter Tassos Gousis and their coach Georgos Panagiotopoulos, is already facing criminal charges for the use of steroids.

Gousis, who also tested positive for the same substance in the lead-up to the Beijing Games, has already been handed a two-year ban.

They all deny any wrong-doing.