International Athletics' News

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December 2004

New Year, more expectations
31.12.2004 A new year opens within the next hours and the warming up for a new athletics season has been started. This year the eyes turn to Madrid and Helsinki for the Indoor and the Outdoor World Championships, but also to the new initiatives announced by the IAAF for the upgrading of the Sport and the continuous war against doping. A war who is expected to reach a pick during the next months.
In Greece, the expectations go far beyond the need for a rapid and radical settlement of the drug scandal. The latest success in the international scene and the emerging of new talented boys and girls in the stadiums schetch the framework of a new euphoria for the prospects of our sport in the post-Olympics Greece.
Happy New Year!

Tsoumeleka named World Walker of the Year by the Track and Field News Magazine
31.12.2004 The 20000m Walk Olympic Champion, Athanassia Tsoumeleka, already elected as the Woman Athlete of the Year for Greece, ranked on the top of her event for 2004, by the prestigious Track and Field News Magazine.The Team of Experts who every year for the Athletes of the Year voted Kenenisa Bekele and Yelena Isinbayeva as the overall Athletes of the Year.

The Greek Federation starts the investigation
29.12.2004Following the instructions provided by the IAAF, the Greek Athletics Federation (SEGAS) announced the start of the investigation on the drugs scandal. SEGAS in engaged to diffuse all information to the Greek and international media and calls everyone to respect the rights of the athletes under accusation. The Federation expresses its will to close the survey earlier than the 80-day period asked by the International Association. Meanwhile, the year ends dramatically for the Greek athletics. A 24-old shot putter, Pavlos Atmatsidis, 10th all time Greek athlete of the event, lost his life on Sunday morning, being involved in a car-crash happened in the Northern Greece.

IAAF Statement on the Greek athletes and coach
22.12.2004(From the IAAF )The IAAF has now considered the written explanations received from the Greek athletes, Mr Konstantinos Kenteris and Ms Ekatherina Thanou and from the Greek coach, Mr Christos Tzekos, in response to doping charges filed against them by the IAAF on 2 December 2004. In each case, the IAAF has concluded that the explanation provided is unacceptable in response to the charges made. Accordingly, the IAAF has notified the Greek Federation earlier this afternoon that both athletes and the coach are provisionally suspended pending the resolution of their cases. As provided under IAAF Rules, a hearing for each individual will now be convened before the relevant disciplinary tribunal of the Greek Federation to determine whether doping violations have been committed. There will be a final right of appeal from the decision of the Greek Federation to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Now that a disciplinary process has commenced, the IAAF will make no further comment in this matter until appropriate.

Athanassia Tsoumeleka named Greek Athlete of the Year
21.12.2004:The 20000m walk Olympic Champion Athanassia Tsoumeleka named Woman Athlete of the Year for Greece. The 22-year-old walker won the award in front of the sailing gold double, Sofia Bekatorou and Emilia Tsoulfa and the 400m hurdles Olympic Champion who was third.
The men's awards are marked by the absence of athletics from the top three athletes. Theodoris Zagorakis, the captain of the Greek Soccer Team who won the European Championships last summer got the title, followed by the Olympic Champion Dimosthenis Tambakos (gymnastics) and the Athens' bronze medallist Pyrros Dimas (weightlifting).
One more distinction for athletics came from the competition for the Coach of the Year Awards. Giorgos Panayotopoulos, the coach of Fani Chalkia, placed third, following the coach of the national soccer team, Otto Rehhagel who is the winner, as well as Koulis Iosifidis, the technical leader of the women's water polo national team, which won the silver medal in the Olympics.

8 years ban for Michelle Collins
11.12.2004: America's former world indoor 200m champion is the first athlete to be suspended without a positive drugs test or an admission of drugs use. Collins' ban is a result of her connection to the federal inquiry into the Balco doping scandal.[Full story from BBC]

IAAF to step up war against cheats
06.12.2004: Set up by the IAAF Council during the Athens Olympics, the IAAF Anti-Doping Task Force has now made a number of recommendations in an effort to strengthen the IAAF’s fight against doping. [Report by the IAAF]

WADA tests Kenteris and Thanou
06.12.2004: Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou were tested yesterday by the WADA's medicines. The athletes were asked to provide both urine and blood tests.

The World Athletics Museum in Athens. Berlin to host the 2009 World Championships. Annual throws gala in Olympia.
04.12.2004: The establishment of the World Athletics Museum in Athens and the introduction of a new annual international meeting in the venue of the Ancient Olympia, were among the decisions of the IAAF Council, enthusiastically welcome by the greek media, athletes and other personalities of the sport and political life. The World Athletics Museum – housed in 3000-4000 sq metres in the former IBC – next to the Olympic Stadium in Athens, will be open by the end of 2005. The main sponsor will be the Greek Government.
The Olympia's Throws Gala will be held every year at the end of May, or the beginning of June, while the first meeting of the new series will be organized in 2005 or 2006.
The delegation representing the city of Berlin successfully won its bid to host the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Athletics, ahead of strong challenges from Split and Valencia

New round of accusations against Jones
04.12.2004: Marion Jones should be stripped of her five Olympic medals if allegations that she used banned drugs before the 2000 Sydney Games are true, World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound said Friday. [Report by CNN/SI]

IAAF charges them
02.11.2004 (from the IAAF): "In August 2004, the IAAF Council appointed the Doping Review Board to investigate whether evidence exists of the commission of Doping Violations under IAAF Rules by the Greek athletes, Mr Konstantinos Kenteris and Ms Ekatherina Thanou and by their Greek Coach, Mr Christos Tzekos.
Based on its investigations to date, the Doping Review Board has concluded that evidence does exist that Mr Kenteris and Ms Thanou committed Doping Violations under IAAF Rules.  These Doping Violations include whereabouts information violations which led to missed tests against the athletes in Tel Aviv, Chicago and Athens and a failure to submit to doping control in Athens on 12 August 2004.  Letters have been sent to the Greek Federation today outlining the charges against both athletes.
The Doping Review Board has also concluded that evidence exists that Mr Tzekos has committed Doping Violations under IAAF Rules.  These Doping Violations include distributing prohibited substances, assisting in the use of prohibited substances and tampering with the doping control process.  Similarly, a letter has been sent to the Greek Federation today outlining the charges against Mr Tzekos.
The Doping Review Board has conducted an extensive Inquiry over the course of the last 3 months in co-ordination with the IOC, WADA and other anti-doping organizations and with the assistance of the Greek civil authorities.
Disciplinary proceedings will now be initiated against the above persons in accordance with the standard procedures set out in IAAF Rules. The persons concerned will be given the opportunity to respond to the charges against them by 16 December 2004 and, if their explanations are rejected, they will be provisionally suspended by the IAAF pending a hearing before the relevant disciplinary tribunal of the Greek Federation.  As provided under IAAF Rules, there will be a right of appeal from the decision of the Greek Federation to CAS.
The Doping Review Board will continue to investigate whether there is evidence of the commission of further Doping Violations or other breaches of IAAF Rules by the above persons or any other person that may have a connection with the above mentioned Doping Violations.
Now that a disciplinary process has commenced, the IAAF will make no further comment in this matter until appropriate."

November 2004

Milano Marathon results
28.11.2004: Men: 1 Daniel Cheribo (Kenya) 2:08:38, 2 Benjamin Kipchumba (Kenya) 2:09:23, 3 Enock Mitei (Kenya) 2:10:52, 4 Raymond Kipkoech (Kenya)  2:11:30, 5 Joseph Ngeny (Kenya) 2:12:08, 6 Rachid Amour (Morocco) 2:15:48, 7 Ibrahim Mitei (Kenya) 2:16:16, 8 Vito Sardella (Italy) 2:17:32
Women: 1 Rita Jeptoo  (Kenya) 2:28:11, 2 Gloria Marconi (Italy) 2:31:53, 3 Debora Toniolo (Italy) 2:34:24, 4 Griseldes Gonzales (Spain) 2:34:28, 5 Irina Songerlainen (Russia) 2:38:09, 6 Rosita Rota Gelpi (Italy) 2.38:39

Minos Kyriakou named Honorary President of the Greek Federation
25.11.2004: Minos Kyriakou, member of the IAAF Council and President of the Greek Champion Club "Panhellinios", named today Honorary President of the Greek Athletics Federation. Many champions, but also politicians, found words of exclamation to describe his contribution to the progress of the athletics in the country, expressing enthusiastically their agreement with the decision of the Federation's Council.
Meanwhile, the new classification of the Greek athletes was also announced. The Elite Athletes' category includes 11 champions: Fani Halkia, Athanassia Tsoumeleka, Anastassia Kelesidou, Chrisopigi Devetzi, Mirela Manjani, Katerina Voggoli, Christos Meletoglou, Periklis Iakovakis, Giorgos Theodoridis, Keterina Thanou and Kostas Kenteris.
At the end of the season 2004-05, the athletes who will have achieved the standards for this category, according to the new evaluation procedures, will receive all the respective benefits retrospectively.

New evaluation procedures for Greek athletes
19.11.2004: Just few days after the technical leadership of the national athletics undertook its responsibilities, the plans for a new evaluation system of the Greek athletes, based mainly in the IAAF's ranking system, come to publicity. An athlete will be eligible for the Category A of the national planning only if he/she is ranked among the top 12 athletes of the IAAF ranking for his or her event. Respective criteria are established for the other categories too (i.e. ranking among the 20 athletes for the second category, etc). In addition, the elite athletes are now obliged to participate in at least 4 IAAF meetings per season (Grand Prix or Permit Meetings) in order to retain their position in the national classification system.
All the other criteria used in the previous years (medals in World Championships and Olympic Games) will be also in power. It must be notice that the classification of the Greek athletes in categories is directly related with the annual financial support every athlete receives by the Misnistry of Sport. The new system aims to the greatest possibile compatibility of the evaluation procedures with the IAAF's ranking system, as well as to face with the refuse of enough top athletes to participate in meetings outside the country.

Officialy charged
18.11.2004: After the end of the first phase of the investigation on doping in Greece, the Prosecutors charged officially Kentreris, Thanou and their coach, Christos Tzekos with a series of accusations. The most serious are:

• Both Champions are charged for refusing anti-doping controls in Athens, Chicago and Tel Aviv.
• Tzekos is charged for importing of banned substances and circulation of food supplements, without the permission of the responsible authorities
• The champions and their coach are also charged for perjury commitment

Seven doctors who took care of the champions, after the accident, are also accused for offending  professional rules.

New technical leadership for Greek Athletics
11.11.2004: A new collective scheme, responsible for the management of the national athletics in the post-Olympics era, was announced by the Greek Federation. About two months after the resignation of the previous headcoach, Kostas Spanidis, the coach of the silver olympics medallist Anastasia Kelesidou, named Technical Director of Elite Athletics, to become the new technical leader of the sport. Dimitris Evagelopoulos, coach of Panayotis Sarris and Chryssa Goudenoudi, is the new Coordinator of the National Teams, while a popular champion, Labros Papakostas has been in charge for the International Relations, as well as the management of the Athens Elite Athletics Center. Finally, one more coach, Asteris Tsiftsoglou leads the Elite Athletics Center of Thessaloniki.

Jerome Young banned for life
11.11.2004: Sprinter Jerome Young, a central figure in a doping case that could cost the U.S. relay team its gold medal from Sydney, was banned for life by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on Wednesday following his second positive test for drugs. Young tested positive for the banned drug EPO at a Paris meet in July.

Frederick Cerono wins in Athens Marathon
07.11.2004: A strong Kenya's team dominated the 22nd version of the Athens Classic Marathon, held today from the ancient Marathon site to the All-Marble Stadium in Athens. Frederick Cerono clocked 2:15.28 to win the race, followed by Barnabas Rutto 2:17.09 and Christofer Kosgei 2:17.29
Ethiopia's Zinash Alemu was the winner of the women's race with 2:41.11, while her compatriot Hiruet Aremba was second in 2:41.18 and Russia's Svetlana Ponomarienko third with 2:41.42
Konstantinos Gougousis won the national Marathon Championships with 2:27.03, achieving his first ever national title, while Lambros Zaragas placed second with 2:28.04. Georgia Ambatzidou improved her personal best for the classic Marathon to 2:45.26 to win the fourth in a raw national marathon champs.
MEN: 1. Frederick Cerono KEN 2:15.28, 2. Barnabas Rutto KEN 2:17.09, 3. Christopher Kosgei KEN 2:17.29, 4. Michael Kapkai KEN 2:17.24, 5. Stanley Leleito KEN 2:17.32, 6. Jong Ngeno KEN 2:17.39, 7. David Mayo KEN 2:18.56, 8. Patrick Chumba KEN 2:19.23, 9. Daniel Tu Kirwa KEN 2:20.18, 10. Elia Yator KEN 2:20.47
WOMEN: 1. Zinash Alemu ETH 2:41.11, 2. Hiruet Aremba ETH 2:41.18, 3. Svetlana Ponomarienko RUS 2:41.42, 4. Derbe Hunte ETH 2:41.59, 5. Georgia Ambatzidou GRE 2:45.26, 6. Yanna Malkova RUS 2:45.53, 7. Magdalene Gazea GRE 2:46.25, 8. Greta Varhi ITA 2:46.27, 9. Magdalene Karimali GRE 2:48.13, 10. Nina Pontebnesova RUS 2:50.14
Konstantinos Poulios with 32.18 and Eleni Nikolopoulou with 37.56 were the winners of the 10.000m race.

Radcliffe victorious in New York
07.11.2004: Paula Radcliffe dominated the New York Marathon with 2:23.10, after a close competition with Suzan Chepkemei who placed second in 2:09.53. The British world record holder claimed the win with a strong sprint in the last 400m, while Hendrick Ramaala was the winner in the men's race with 2:09.28
Men: Hendrick Ramaala, 2:09:28, Meb Keflezighi, 2:09:53, Timothy Cherigat, 2:10:00, Patrick Tambwe, 2:10:11, Benson Cherono, 2:11:23, Christopher Cheboiboch, 2:12:34, John Kagwe, 2:12:35, Paul Kirui, 2:14:04, Ryan Shay, 2:14:08, Ottavio Andriani, 2:14:51
Women: Paula Radcliffe, 2:23:10, Susan Chepkemei, 2:23:14, Lyubov Denisova, 2:25:18, Margaret Okayo, 2:26:31, Jelena Prokopcuka, 2:26:51, Luminita Zaituc, 2:28:15, Lornah Kiplagat, 2:28:21, Larisa Zousko, 2:29:32, Madai Perez, 2:29:57, Kerryn McCann, 2:32:06

European Athetes of The Year Awards
03.11.2004: For the 12th time the European Athletic Association will award the best female and male athlete of the outgoing season with the Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year Trophy. Two Greek Olympic Champions, Fani Chalkia and Athanassia Tsoumeleka. are among them. The candidates are:
Men: ALEKNA Virgilijus (LTU), BALDINI Stefan (ITA), BELONOG Yuriy (UKR), BORZAKOVSKIY Yuriy (RUS), BRUGNETTI Ivano (ITA), FERNANDEZ Francisco Javier (ESP), HESHKO Ivan (UKR), HOLM Stefan (SWE), KORZENIOWSKI Robert (POL), KOVAGO Zoltan (HUN), NIZHEGORODOV Denis (RUS), OBIKWELU Francis (POR), OLSEN Joachim (DEN), OLSSON Christian (SWE), OPREA Marian (ROM), SEBRLE Roman (CZE), SILVA Rui (POR), THORKILDSEN Andreas (NOR), TIKHON Ivan (BLR), VASILEVSKIS Vadims (LAT)
Women: ABEYLEGESSE Elvan (TUR), FEOFANOVA Svetlana (RUS), HALKIA Fani (GRE), HOLMES Kelly (GBR), ISINBAYEVA Yelena (RUS), IVANOVA Olimpiada (RUS), KLÜFT Carolina, KRASOVSKA Yelena (UKR), KUZENKOVA Olga (RUS), LEBEDEVA Tatyana (RUS), NERIUS Steffi (GER), NESTERENKO Yuliya (BLR), RADCLIFFE Paula (GBR), SADOVA Natalya (RUS), SAMITOVA Gulnara (RUS), SIMAGINA Irina (RUS), SKUJYTE Austra (LTU), SLESARENKO Yelena (RUS), TOMASHOVA Tatyana (RUS), TSOUMELEKA Athanasia (GRE)
• [Click here to vote]

New releases link the sprinters with BALCO
03.11.2004: It was mentioned many times, even from these pages, that the BALCO case could be a vital lead in the doping investigation in Greece. Today, the Mercury News provides new evidence, connecting Kenteris and Thanou with the american laboratory. The new reports come in a period that the survey by the Greek authorities, based on supporting material by the US Court, is in progress, attempting not only to dissolve the Tzekos - Kenteris - Thanou case, but also to investigate the real doping dimensions in the country's sport activities.
Later in the evening, Christos Tzekos and Kenteris' lawyer talked to the television, rejecting emphatically any relation with Victor Conte and BALCO. Both underlined that there is not any link among them and the laboratory, as proved by the material found in BALCO and the information given by the Americans to the Greek authorities.
• [New evidence against sprinters] from San Jose Mercury News

Chalkia returns to track, targetting Helsinki
02.11.2004: After a long period of vacations, the Olympic 400m hurdles champion, Fani Chalkia, returned to training, targetting the world title next year. [Our full story, written for the IAAF]

The way to the Court?
02.11.2004: Kostas Kenteris has said he is confident he will clear his name in court if authorities in Athens decide to charge him with deliberately avoiding a drugs test. Although the official decision of the prosecutor in charge has not yet been announced, according to unofficial information published on several newspapers in Greece and abroad, he is going to be officially charged, along with Katerina Thanou, Christos Tzekos and the doctor of the hospital who verified the car-crash, considered faked by the authorities.

WADA returns to Athens
01.11.2004: Periklis Iakovakis, Stella Tsikouna, Christos Polychroniou, Savva Lyka, Olga Vasdeki and the triple jump Athens' silver medallist, Pigi Devetzi, were tested by the WADA today in the Agios Kosmas training center.

October 2004

Kenteris talks to the media
31.10.2004: For the first time after the incidents of the August 12th, Kostas Kenteris gave a long interview to the ALTER CHANNEL, talking about the doping scancal who has shocked Greece. Kenteris insisted on his innocence, claiming again that he wasn't informed of the call for the control and repeated that the accident was true.
During the show, both the advance notice calls sent to Kenteris and Thanou by the WADA were presented. The documents were not signed by the athletes, but from three other persons, who, according to Kenteris never informed them. According to the anti-doping rules, the athletes must was given a period of 24 hours in order to provide the samples, instead of 1 hour they had in this case. In other words, according to the champions' opinion, the signs provided by the head of the Greek Olympic Team, the director of the anti-doping of the Olympic Village and one volunteer, converted the advance notice call into a no notice call. The procedure described is the normal way usually followed by the WADA though, while the of-competition tests in the Olympics period are carried out by the IOC, according to its own legislation.
Other athletes also talked, to give evidence that Kenteris and Thanou were in the Agios Kosmas stadium during the crucial hours of that evening.
Kenteris said that he decided to interrupt his collaboration with Tzekos, believing that his coach should had informed him earlier about the call, although he admitted that maybe Tzekos has not a clear conception of the case. "When I realized that I lost the Olympics, I decided to change everything in my life. Just one person cannot handle with everything about my carrer", he added.
He also presented a package of out-of-competion calls he received during the last two years, about one every 20 days as he noticed ephatically. Concerning the where-about he missed in Israel, he said he has the notice sent to the Federation, informing about his move to Germany in order to visit a doctor.
The former Olympic and World Champion expressed his surprise for the involvment of the President of the IOC to this case, and, at the end of the interview, he disclosed that he seriously thinks about moving abroad, where he will have the possibility to train with a new international coach, in a new improved environment. "Although I was so dissapointed, I decided to go on. I will never stop running for my country, for all these people who support me."
Finally, the journalist directed the show, presented a brief telephone interview by an unamed doctor working for the WADA, who said that during the same period he had tried three times to find Maurice Greene, but he never left a notice to call him officially for an anti-doping control.

Franfurt Marathon results
31.10.2004: Men 1 Boaz KIMAIYO KEN 2:09:09; 2 Luke KIBET KEN  2:11:27; 3 Ben ROTICH KEN 2:11:44; 4 John RONO KEN 2:12:59; 5 Fred MOGAKA KEN 2:14:28 Women 1 Olesya NURGALIEVA RUS 2:29:48; 2 Elena NURGALIEVA RUS 2:29:49; 3 Yulia VINOKUROVA RUS 2:32:27; 4 Gladys ASIBA KEN 2:35:14; 5 Maija ORAVAMAKI FIN 2:39:35

Kenteris talks to the media
30.10.2004: The Greek ALTER Channel announced that Kenteris will be hosted by the talk show "Kitrinos Typos" on Sunday, late at night. It is the first interview of the former World and Olympic Champion after the incidents of the August 12th.

Return to training, in search of a new coach
27.10.2004: Although there are not any further developments, regarding the investigation of doping in Greece, Kostas Kenteris decided to return to training. "I want to be ready to participate in games, whenever I am free to compete", Kenteris said to the journalists just after his training yesterday. The former Olympic and World Champion was training for 3.5 hours, along with the new Greek star, Fani Chalkia, under the instructions of her coach, Giorgos Panayotopoulos. According to media releases, after the end of his collaboration with Christos Tzekos, Kenteris has started searching for a new coach, probably from Europe or the US.
Today, Panayotopoulos rejected rumors, according to which Kenteris would join his training team.

Athens Marathon Classic ALPHA BANK
23.10.2004: The 22nd edition of the Athens Marathon Classic is held on Sunday, November 7 from the ancient Marathon to the All-Marble Athens Stadium. This year, the international race is contucted in parallel with the Greek National Marathon Championships.

Sirigos left the hospital
22.10.2004: The Greek journalist who was attacked last week by two unknown men, left the hospital yesterday. Talking to the journalists, he referred to the three cases he has investigated surveys within the last months and declares his belief that the Police will reveal who planned and executed the attack against him.

Alvin Harisson banned for 4 years. Kenteris and Thanou waiting for the Procecutor's decision
19.10.2004: Alvin Harrison, the 2000 Olympic silver medallist in the 400 meters, received a four-year suspension from the sport after admitting he used several undetectable performance-enhancing drugs, The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced today.
Meanwhile, in Greece, the decision of the Judge of the First Instance is expected in the next days. According to press releases, based on the information about the findings of the initial survey carried out by the Greek Justice, the Procecutor can bring indictments against both Greek Champions, Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou. According to the same reports, they are facing the accusations of obstruction of the anti-doping control, as well as their false testimony, regarding the accident followed the doping call by the WADA, which is considered fabricated.
These developments are coming in the shadow of the attack against a greek journalist, Philippos Syrigos, happened yesterday. Two motorcycle helmeted attackers stabbed and beat him. Filippos Sirigos, sports editor at the major daily Eleftherotypia, is in stable condition, with stomach and head wounds after being stabbed multiple times and beaten with crowbars. The journalist have carried out several surveys, including the corruption in soccer, the investigation of some sponsorships programmes of the Olympics and the doping scandal in Greece. Currently, there are no information about possible links of the attack with any of the under survey cases. [American Alvin Harrison Banned for Four Years], from the Reuters

Amsterdam Marathon results
17.10.2004: Men 1. Robert Cheboror (Ken) 2: 06:23 PB, 2. William Kipsang (Ken) 2:08:41, 3. El Hassan Lahsinni (Fra) 2:10:10, 4. Wilfred Kigen (Ken) 2:12:05, 5. Hugo van de Broek (Ned) 2.12:08 PB, 6. Khalid Boumlilli (Mar) 2.12:32, 7. Salim Kipsang (Ken) 2:12:44, 8. Teferi Bacha (Eth) 2:13:07, 9. Rodgers Rop (Ken) 2:13:58; 10. Benjamin Kimutai Kosgei (Ken) 2:14:16
Women 1. Helena Javornik (Slo) 2:27:33 PB, 2. Emily Kimuria (Ken) 2:29:46, 3. Tigiste Abidi (Eth) 2:33:26, 4. Kristijna Loonen (Ned) 2:37:01, 5. Jane Rotich (Ken) 2:37:14, 6. Alena Samokhvalova (Rus) 2:38:43
• [The full 2005 Athletics Calendar was compiled]

Tzekos-Kenteris-Thanou case: The first phase is over
16.10.2004: The first phase of the sensational case was completed yesterday. The findings of the Procecutors' 3-member Committee was submitted to the Judge of the First Instance which has the responsibility to undertake further judicial action against them. Any development, depending upon the context of the report, is expected after Monday.

Capri Marathon Results
17.10.2004: Men: 1 Haron Kiplimo Toroitich (Kenya) 2:09:09, 2 Richard Maiyo Kiprono (Kenya) 2:09:47, 3 Ruggero Pertile (Italy) 2:10:22, 4 Johnstone Changwony (Kenya) 2:10:59, 5 Samson Kosgei (Kenya) 2:11:43, 6 Nelson Lebo (Kenya) 2:13:16
Women: 1 Anne Jelagat Kibor (Kenya) 2:30:54, 2 Tatyana Hladyr (Ukraine) 2:32:44, 3 Meseret Kotu  (Ethiopia) 2:41:20

The doping discussion in Greece
12.10.2004: After a long period of silence, followed by the confusion occurred by the incidents of the August 12th, doping returns to the moment in Greece. Tonight, the Greek TV MEGA Channel, presented a brilliant job prepared by a group of elite country's journalists. In their weekly political show "The Folders", a brief history of Christos Tzekos course was presented, stressing especially the influence of a Bulgarian weightlifting coach, Ivan Ambatziev, in the initial steps of his career. Ambatziev was also presented in an older video, from a lecture given in Finland, referring to Thanou’s progression as an example of the results of his training methods to sprinters. The coach was banned for Sydney's Olympics as many of his athletes had been tested positive.
The possible links of some elite athletes to BALCO were again investigated, based on the material published by the international media, although it was underlined that the athletes referred by Conte may not be Kenteris and Thanou, but other top athletes of the country. In addition, some copies of the doping schedules found in the Laboratory were also presented, as well as the initials and the other codes indicating the US elite athletes who are currently under investigation.
Giannis Psarelis, a Greek doctor who works for WADA, explained the problems he had with the where-abouts of the Greek stars and the impacts in his relations with some country’s authorities.
Maybe the most important but depressing point of this report was the last. The journalists claim that they have on hand the "training diary" of a thrower, who participated in Athens Olympics. According to this, an unnamed woman athlete, received up to 10 doses of several substances per day, including testosterone, but she has never tested positive.
The first phase of the prosecutors’ investigation on Tzekos – Kenteris – Thanou case has already completed and in the next days the conclusion will be known. Independently on the results of the specific official survey, we are still on the beginning of the war in Greece and worldwide.

Evans Rutto and Constantina Dita won the Chicago Marathon
10.10.2004: Kenya's Evans Rutto, running under perfect weather conditions in Chicago, hits the finish in 2:06:16 to claim his second Chicago win in a row and his third straight major marathon victory. Also, he improved his personal best set in London, earlier this year. Daniel Njenga was second in 2:07:42 and Takaoka third in 2:07:49.
Constantina Dita - Tomescu won the women's race in 2:23:45 barely going hard enough to break through the victory tape. Nuta Olaru ran a personal best to finish second in 2:24:32, while Svetlana Zakharova was third in 2:25:01.[Full coverage by the RunnersWorld]

Poznan Marathon Results
10.10.2004: Men: 1. Mikhail Iveruk (UKR) 2:17:55; 2. Vladimir Tyamchik (BLR) 2:18:22; 3. Leszek Beblo (Sporting Miedzyzdroje) 2:18:37; 4. Richard Rotich (KEN) 2:18:41; 5. Aleksey Khaurychenka (BLR) 2:19:11
Women: 1. Arleta Meloch (Olimpia Grudziadz) 2:41:19; 2. Ewa Dederko (Kmicic Czestochowa) 2:47:09; 3. Katarzyna Dziwosz (Technik Malbork) 2:49:15; 4. Agnieszka Golak (Srem) 2:49:28; 5. Agnieszka Gortel (Mikolów) 2:52:30

European Cup returns to Florence
10.10.2004 (From the European Athletics Association): The Council of the European Athletic Association approved at its meeting in Lausanne the Italian city of Florence as the host of the SPAR European Cup 2005.
Meanwhile, the EAA announced that for the 3rd time in a row "Vardinoyiannia" in Rethymno is the leading EAA outdoor permit meeting. In 2004 Rethymno achieved a score of 83.058 points, ahead of San Sebastian (81.650) and Luzern (80.942). "Venizelia" in Chania was 10th with 78.631 points and "Papaflessia" In Kalamata 19th.

Mirella's new start
06.10.2004: For six consecutive years, Mirella Manjani has achieved to be on the pondium of every major athletics tournament since 1999. Her two golds and one silver in the world championships, two olympic medals in Sydney and Athens and one european title in Munich, consist maybe the most impressing palmare in the history of the Greek Athletics. This year, Mirella decides a significant change to her career: "I have a great respect to my teacher, Vassilis Kokolis, with whom I have worked during the last 8 years. But it's time for a change. After all I have achieved, I need a change in order to refresh my career, setting new targets.", said the world champion, announcing her collaboration with a new coach, Vaso Panayotopoulou, the former discus throw champion who dominated the national scene in the 80s.
"I'm still on vacation", Manjani adds. "But from November I start training again, following a new hard schedule. I want to participate in many meetings next year and return to the long throws".

German coach rejects steroid charges
06.10.2004:German athletics coach Thomas Springstein has denied accusations that he gave a banned steroid, found in his house during a police raid, to a young female athlete. [Full story by CNN/SI]

Douvalidis sets european objectives
04.10.2004: Konstantinos Douvalidis has already been established as one of the hot prospects of the Greek athletics, especially after the world all time youth best he set in the 110m hurdles on Saturrday. "I was waiting for a record, after a year of strong training but also many races in very good times. Now I start thinking of the European Juniors Championships, to be held in Kaunas next year, where I hope to have a good performance" says the new record holder.
Douvalis was born on March 10, 1987 and last year he won the bronze medal in the European Youth Olympic Festival, held in Paris, with 13.75. He closed 2003 with a personal best of 13.62. On January, he improved his indoor 60mh record to 7.89, while last May he set a new outdoor record with 13.55. From May to October he broke the record four more times, to reach the top of the all time list. He has a personal best of 10.68 in the 100m and 21.80 in the 200m. [Our brief report written for the IAAF]

World Youth Record by Kostantinos Douvalidis
03.10.2004: Konstantinos Douvalidis, 17, broke the world youth best of the 110m hurdles, in the meeting "Petralia 2004" held yesterday in the island of Skopelos. Douvalidis, who had threatened the record enough times this season, clocked 13.22 to improve significantly the previous mark of 13.26 set by France's Ladji Doucouré on 16 June 1999 in Bydgoszcz.

Yingjie Sun and Paul Kirui won in New Delhi
03.10.2004: China's Sun Yingjie won the women's race in the IAAF World Halfmarathon Championships, held in New Delhi, India. Sun, who was also Asian Champion in 2003 in both 5000m and 10000m races, set a new national record with 1:08.40. Lydia Cheromei of Kenya placed 2nd and Romania's Constantina Tomescu 3rd, leaving Sonia O' Sullivan on the 4th position.
Kenya's Paul Kirui was the winner in the men's race with 1:02.15, followed by Tanzania's Fabiano Joseph, and Qatar's Abdullah Ahmad Hassan (Albert Chepkurui). Kenya and Ethiopia dominated the teams' standings in men and women respectively. [Results]

Jens Lukas won the Spartathlon 2004
03.10.2004: Germany's Jens Lukas won the Spartathlon 2004 (250km.) with 25:49.56, beating the favourite, Austria's Markus Thalman, who was the winner last year. Thalman placed 2nd (26:20.02), while his compatriot Yuriy Martin was 3rd (27:19.15) and Finland's Janne Kankashira 4th in 27:19.15 too. Few meters before the finishing line Martin almost collpsed, but the Finnish athlete instead of going ahead of the Austrian, but he hugged and helped him to pass the line.

Annus and Fazekas banned for 2 years
01.10.2004: Hungarian athletes Adrian Annus and Robert Fazekas have been banned for two years from competition by their country's athletics federation for doping violations during last month's Olympic Games [Full story by EUROSPORT]

September 2004

$5.6 Million in Prize Money Awarded in September
26.09.2004: More than US$ 5.6 million in prize money was awarded in international track & field competition in September, The TRACK PROFILE Report's ongoing prize money tally showed.
Based upon winnings reported from the Brussels and Berlin Golden League meets, the Rieti, Italy Grand Prix, the season-capping World Athletics Final in Monaco, and the IAAF's Multi-Event Challenge, at least $5,664,044 in prize money and bonuses were awarded this month.[Full article by Bob Ramsak]

Berlin Marathon results
26.09.2004:Men: 1. Felix Limo KEN 2:06:44, 2. Joseph Riri KEN 2:06:49, 3. Joshua Chelanga KEN 2:07:05, 4. Wilson Onsare KEN 2:08:53, 5. Luis Jesus POR 2:09:08,
Women: 1. Yoko Shibui JPN 2:19:41, 2. Hiromi Ominami JPN 2:23:26, 3. Sonja Oberem GER 2:26:53, 4. Beatrice Omwanza KEN 2:27:19, 5. Leila Aman ETH 2:27:54

Statistics update: 74 Greek national records in 2004
26.09.2004: A record production of 74 national records of various categories, in this year, is among the results of the Olympic Games hosting by Greece. Thirty seven records were broken in men and women (indoor and outdoor), while juniors set 11 records, boys and girls under 18-years-old broke eighteen records and eight more records were improved by athletes in the under 23 category.
Fani Chalkia is the champion of the new records too, as she made 4 records in the 400m, 6 in the 400mh, while she participated in both 4X400m records set by national relay teams. Konstantina Efentaki follows, with 5 national records in the middle distance races.
Three of the records set are also Balkan Records (Chalkia in the 400mh, Devetzi in the triple jump and Tsiliggiri in the pole vault), while the marks made by Chalkia and Devetzi in the Olympics are also Olympic Records.
Four new holders should be particularly mentioned in the juniors' category. The pole vaulter Konstantinos Filippidis, who cleared 5.50m this summer, the 110m hurdler Kostantinos Douvalidis, who ran a 13.32 this year, threatening the world juniors record, Yervasios Filippidis, who sent the javelin to 77.73m and finally, the performance of the 14-year-old Ekaterini Stefanidou, the best all time world athlete of her age in the pole vault with 4.14m.
• [Greek national records in 2004][Greek national records] [Balkan Records]

Vassilis Sevastis re-elected
26.09.2004: Vassilis Sevastis re-elected as President of the Greek Athletics Federation, after the elections held yesterday in the older greek sport federation. After the elections Sevastis accepted that the Federation should have faced with doping problems earlier, while he stressed the need for extra financial resources in order to overhelm the deficit accumulated in the previous years and meet the requirements of the new olympic preparation.

Talence results
26.09.2004: The decathlon Olympic Champion, Roman Sebrle and Kelly Sotherton, are on the lead after the events of the 1st day in Decastar. Results:[Decathlon][Heptathlon][Women's Decathlon]

Murofushi 83.15m, Gatlin 9.97 in Yokohama
24.09.2004: In the ‘Super meet’ held in Yokohama yesterday, Olympic champions Justin Gatlin and Koji Murofushi won the 100m and the hammer throw with new meet records. Gatlin broke the previous meet record, 10.00, which was recorded by the 1992 Olympic gold medallist Linford Christie in 1995, while Murofushi broke his own meet mark of 82.08m from 2001.  Greece's Christos Meletoglou placed second in the triple jump with 16.62m  [Results]

Second call by the prosecutors
22.09.2004: Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou are going to testify again tomorrow morning. The public prosecutors called them again, as after the first phase of their investigation some voids and contradictions have revealed regarding their initial testimony. Both champions are now called as suspects of obstraction of the anti-doping control and not as witnesses, as they were called two weeks ago.
The examination is expected to be completed on Monday, September 27, and the prosecutors'  conclusions will be known within a period of two weeks.

Isinbayeva and Bekele top the World Ranking
20.09.2004 Yelena Isinbayeva, already named Athlete of the Year by the IAAF, tops the IAAF World Ranking at the end of the season with 1.478 points. Two more Russians follow her, Tatyana Lebedeva with 1.447 p. and Yelena Slesarenko with 1.431 p. Among the Greek women, Fani Chalkia and Pigi Devetzi climbed to the top 50, after the medals they won in Athens and their performances in the IAAF World Athletics Final. Chalkia is 19th in the overall standing and 3rd in the 400m hurdles, while Devetzi rised to the 34th overall position, while she is 4th in the triple jump.
In the men's scoring Kenenisa Bekele is on the top, with 1.460 p., followed by Roman Sebrle and Christian Olsson. Periklis Iakovakis is the best greek, currently 194th in the overall ranking (14th in the 400mh)
Athanassia Tsoumeleka (4th in the running events), Anastassia Kelesidou (6th in the discus throw) and Katerina Voggoli (11th in the discus throw), Hristos Meletoglou (13th in the triple jump), Luis Tsatoumas (15th in the long jump), Olga Vasdeki (19th in the triple jump), Stella Tsikouna (15th in the discus throw), Alexandros Papadimitriou (19th in the hammer throw) and Yannoula Kafetzi (20th in the long jump) are the other Greeks with relatively high ranking in their events.

Bekele and Isinbayeva named Athletes of the Year. Best Performance awards to El Guerouj and Holmes.
18.09.2004 (From the IAAF): "Olympic champions Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia and Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia have been announced as the 2004 Athletes of the Year on stage tonight at the climax to the spectacular 2004 World Athletics Gala at the Grimaldi Forum, Monte-Carlo.
Bekele and Isinbayeva have produced an exemplary series of performances in 2004, with their respective triumphs stretching from the winter right through the Olympic Games. In the case of the Russian following on from the highs of Athens, even setting a World record in Brussels, and winning today at the World Athletics Final.
As well as an Olympic gold medal in the 10,000m and a silver in the 5000m, Bekele triumphed as male Athlete of the Year thanks to his World 5000m & 10,000m records this summer which backed up a sparkling winter which had led him to a World Indoor 5000m record and his third consecutive World Cross Country double
Isinbayeva’s female Athlete of the Year award is due to her extraordinary feat of setting eight World Pole Vault records in one year (three indoors), one of which helped her to secure the World Indoor Championship crown in Budapest, and another the Olympic title in Athens.
Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco and Britain’s Kelly Holmes were confirmed as having provided the Performances of the Year, thanks to their double Olympic triumphs in Athens." [Full report]

World Athletics Final, Day II
18.09.2004: The highlight of the second day of the IAAF Athletics Final, is that Yelena Isinbayeva, finally did not break the world record, althought she attempted at 4.93m. One more athlete was very close to chance of winning the award of $100.000, Saaeed Shaheen who won the Kenyans in the 3000m steeple with 7:56.94, threatening his own record.
Tonique Williams won everything this year, but not the last race of the season. Ana Guevara clocked 50.13 to win, in front of Monique Hennagan who was second, while Williams finished on 5th position. Asafa Powel dominated the 200m in 20.06 beating Frank Fredericks in the last 200m race of his career, while Stefan Holm cleared 2.33m to get his 21st win in this year. Excellent race for Veronica Campbell who set a personal best of 10.91 in the 100m.
Greece's Pigi Devetzi placed 4th in the triple jump with 14.78m and Katerina Voggoli 8th in the discus throw with 59.14m.[Results]

Mack clears 6.01m, Olsson at 17.66m
18.09.2004: Athens' pole vault Olympic Champion, Timothy Mack, became the 10th athlete in the event's history who exceeded the 6m. Mack cleared 6.01m today, while the win of Asafa Powell in 9.98, Olsson's jump at 17.66m, Holmes' absolute domination in the 1500m and a throw at 66.20m. by Osleydis Menendez were among the best performances in the first day of the 2nd IAAF World Athletics Final.
Many Olympic Champions weren't in shape, as the season's ic actually over. In the last important meeting of the year, Spain's Mario Pestano won the discus throw with 64.11m, where Virgiljius Alekna was 4th, Sandra Glover dominated the 400mh with 54.57 leaving Fani Chalkia 4th and Ionela Tirlea 5th, Youssef Kamel clocked 1:45.61 to win the 800m, where Athens' silver medalist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi placed 5th. Tatyana Lebedeva was defeated by Irina Simagina, while Slesarenko won with 2.01m and attempted again for the world record.[Results]

Athletes of the Year Awards: Shortlists announced. Chalkia's Olympic victory among the top 5 Performances of the Year
17.09.2004: Just 24 hours before the opening of the World Athletics Final, the President of the IAAF Lamine Diack announced the short lists of the athletes, among which the Panel of the International Athletic Foundation is going to elect the athletes of the year and the best year's performances. For the first time ever, there has been a public vote on the IAAF internet site to help select the contenders for the Athlete of the Year:
Man Athlete of the Year: Virgilijus Alekna (LIT), Kenenisa Bekele (ETH), Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR), Christian Olsson (SWE), Liu Xiang (CHN)
Woman Athlete of the Year: Veronica Campbell (JAM), Kelly Holmes (GBR), Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS), Carolina Kluft (SWE), Tonique Williams-Darling (BAH)
Man's Performance of the Year: Kenenisa Bekele (ETH), Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR), Justin Gatlin (USA), Jeremy Wariner (USA), Liu Xiang (CHN)
Woman's Performance of the Year: Elvan Abeylegasse (TUR), Fani Halkia (GRE), Kelly Holmes (GBR), Xing Huina (CHN), Tonique Williams-Darling (BAH)
Obviously, the public vote occurs some huge suprises. The elimination of Stefan Holm from the performance of the year award, as well as of Tatyana Lebedeva from both women's categories, are only two of them. Enough, though, to stress that we all need to adopt more athletics and less national criteria when voting.

"Here is the Sun, here is the Light of the Earth"
17.09.2004: With an unprecedended opening ceremony, called "Route to the Sun", the Paralympic Games started in Athens. The flame lights the town again, motivating the Greeks to return to the olympic venues. The Ceremony was held in the packed Olympic Stadium, while many days, especially of swiming and team events, have been already sold out.

IAAF World Athletics Final
16.09.2004: The IAAF World Athletics Final is held during the weekend in Monte Carlo and the entry lists have been almost finalized. The most of the Athens Olympic Champions will be there to claim the win and the award of 30.000$ in each event, while any athlete breaking a world record will be awarded with an additional amount of 100,000$. Three Greek athletes, Fani Chalkia, Pigi Devetzi and Katerina Voggoli have confirmed their entries for the most important, after the Olympics, meeting of the season.
Fani Chalkia is the favourite in the 400m hurdles race, where she has to defeat again the other Athens' medallists. Katerina Voggoli wants to repeat her throws over the 65m line, especially after her performance in Athens, where she placed 8th, althought she was among the main contenders for the medals. Finally, Pigi Devetzi is able to jump again over the 15 meters, as she returned to her training program just on the next day of her silver medal in the Olympics.
On Sunday, during the World Athletics Gala, the International Athletic Foundation is going to announce the annual awards for the Athletes of the Year, the Best Year's Performances and the other distictions for the season's important achievements.[Starting lists from the Organizing Committee Site]

IAAF Athlete of the Year and Performance of the Year awards
13.09.2004: The IAAF is inviting the public to participate in the vote for the Athlete of the Year and the Performance of the Year awards. Everyone can participate in the vote for the composition of the short lists of five men and women, among which a Panel of the International Athletic Foundation will make a final selection of Athlete of the Year. In addition, three performers will be selected by the vote for the Performance of the Year Awards. The nominees are:
Man Athlete of the Year: 1 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH), 2 Roman Šebrle (CZE), 3 Christian Olsson (SWE), 4 Virgilijus Alekna (LTU), 5 Allen Johnson (USA), 6 Saif Saaeed Shaheen (QAT), 7 Felix Sanchez (DOM), 8 Shawn Crawford (USA), 9 Paul Kipsiele Koech (KEN), 10 Xiang Liu (CHN), 11 Bernard Lagat (KEN), 12 Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR), 13 Asafa Powell (JAM), 14 Justin Gatlin (USA), 15 Francis Obikwelu (POR)
Woman Athlete of the Year: 1 Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS), 2 Tatyana Lebedeva (RUS), 3 Yelena Slesarenko (RUS), 4 Tonique Williams-Darling (BAH), 5 Hestrie Cloete (RSA), 6 Carolina Kluft (SWE), 7 Kelly Holmes (GBR), 8 Ana Gabriela Guevara (MEX), 9 Svetlana Feofanova (RUS), 10 Yamilé Aldama (SUD),
11 Maria de Lurdes Mutola (MOZ), 12 Perdita Felicien (CAN), 13. Veronica Campell (JAM), 14 Edith Masai (KEN), 15 Ionela Þirlea Manolache (ROM)
Performance of the Year (Men): 1 Stefano Baldini (ITA), 2 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH), 3 Yuriy Bilonog (UKR), 4 Hicham El Guerrouj (MOR), 5 Justin Gatlin (USA), 6 Stefan Holm (SWE), 7 Robert Korzeniowski (POL), 8 Saif Saaeed Shaheen (QAT), 9 Jeremy Wariner (USA), 10 Liu Xiang (CHN)
Performance of the Year (Women): 1 Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR), 2 Fani Halkia (GRE), 3 Xing Huina (CHN), 4 Kelly Holmes (GBR), 5 Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS), 6 Benita Johnson (AUS), 7 Tatyana Lebedeva (RUS), 8 Osleidys Menéndez (CUB), 9 Mizuki Noguchi (JPN), 10 Yelena Slesarenko (RUS)
• [Click here to vote]

Three Greek athletes are nominated for the World Athletics Final
13.09.2004: After Berlin Golden League meeting, the IAAF world rankings have been finalized anf the athletes who can participate in the World Athletics Final, to be held in Monaco during the coming weekend, have been known. The top 7 athletes in each event (top 11 in running events of 1500m and over) are invited to take part in the competition and three Greeks are among them. Chrisopigi Devetzi, currently 4th in the triple jump, Fani Chalkia,  5th in the 400m hurdles and Anastassia Kelesidou, which is 6th in the discus throw. Katerina Voggoli is 9th in the discus throw and she could have few possibilities to be invited, in case that some of the first eight discus throwers decide not to participate.
The other Greeks are far from the top seven; Iakovakis 11th in the 400mh, Meletoglou 13th in the triple jump, Vasdeki 19th in the women's triple jump. Although, the Olympic Champion, Athanassia Tzoumeleka is 4th in the world ranking, the Final does not include walk events.

Christian Olsson and Tonique Williams-Darling share the jack-pot of 1 million dollars
12.09.2004: Both the remaining contenders of the season's jack pot won the last meeting of the IAAF Golden League circuit and share the 1 million dollars. Christian Olsson jumped 17.45m today, while Tonique Williams set a world leading 49.09 in the 400m. In this race Fani Chalkia was 4th with a national record of 50.56.
Among the brilliant marks of the meeting are also these by Virjilius Alekna in the discus throw with 68.12m, one more 2.00m clearance by Yelena Slesarenko but also the seasons' best of Amy Acuff at the same height and the mark of 12.46 in the high hurdles, by the Olympic Champion Joanna Hayes. Russia's Tatyana Tomashova clocked 4.04.41 in the 1500m to defeat the Olympic Champion Kelly Holmes, while Greece's Konstantina Efentaki was 12th with 4.09.45
Christos Meletoglou placed fourth in the triple jump with 16.88m, closing a very successful season for the greek champion. [Results]

The last meeting of IAAF Golden League series today in Berlin
12.09.2004: Chrisian Olsson and Tonique Williams are one step before the jack pot of the 1 million dollars. Tonight in Berlin they need just one more win in order to share the award. Greece's 400mh Olympic Champion runs in the 400m., targeting the national record, while Christos Meletoglou participates in the triple jump and Konstantina Efentaki in the 1500m, their last meeting for the season.
"Althought it was a season of hard training and I feel enough tired, I would like to attempt at least once this year in the 400m. In addition, when a so prestigious meeting invites you, you can not reject the invitation. I want to enjoy the race, I know how exciting is the atmosphere in ISTAF every year", Chalkia said before leaving Athens.

Juricial contribution was asked
10.09.2004: The Athens News Agency reports today that the prosecutors investigating the doping in Greece asked today for juricial contribution by the US Court, regarding the BALCO case and the involvement of Greek athletes in the activities of the laboratory.

Rovereto results
09.09.2004: The 2003 World bronze medallist Magdelin Martinez from Italy leapt to 14.92 in the women’s Triple Jump, one of the best marks set in Rovereto, yesterday. Sandra Glover, won  the 400 metres Hurdles in 54.41 and Anna Rogowska from Poland won the women’s Pole Vault with 4.63 [Results]

Tzekos faces with new indictment
09.09.2004: The Greek coach Christos Tzekos was called by the Prosecutors who investigate the possibilty to bring him in the indictment of possesion of forbiden food complements. Tzekos was given a time-limit of 4 days and is going to testify on Monday morning.

Katerina testifies for 7 hours, but who is going to answer the questions?
07.09.2004: It was her turn today to go to the prosecutors’ office and testify for about 7 hours. The inquiry is going on, under strict secrecy according to the Laws, but a parallel public debate seems to avoid touching the heart of the problems, focusing on questions of the type "where were they between 7 and 9 that Tuesday". Essential information for the typical dimensions of the story, but not a global approach aiming to define the problem.
The BALCO case is still far from the lights in Greece. One newspaper elaborated the material from the international media, but most people did not understand, or pretend not to understand. Hopefully the prosecutors do.
Once again, the BALCO case could be a vital lead in the doping labyrinth also in Greece. A country, which is not on the technology edge, cannot provide products of so sophisticated intelligence, but some can be good traders.
For example, some day we should know: which were the two names of Greek athletes referred in the messages investigated by the American authorities? If they don't refer to Kenteris and Thanou, we must know to whom they refer. How Conte's Laboratory sold its products, legal or not? Were there any official representatives in Greece? Who are they and who are their clients? Which are their qualities? What the Greek Federation did when the information about the involvement of Greek athletes was circulated around the world? What the Federation did to face with the "non show" incidents by Greek athletes, already referred by IAAF's doping commission chairman Arne Ljungqvist and reported worldwide?
The forthcoming weeks are crucial for the athletics in Greece. The new leadership of the Federation, to be elected at the end of the month, has to face with fundamental questions. Which kind of athletics we want? Where the limits between the scientific support of the athlete and doping are drawn? Which standards we want to follow, the strict legislation implemented in few countries, or a more lax practice, followed - indeed - by much more countries? The disclosure of the doping cases in Greece is the reality,  a matter of bad public relationships with the establishment of the athletics worldwide, as some claim lately, or maybe both?
Difficult questions need a strong, decisive and reliable leadership. Which should be the result of an open discussion within the federation and its members and not the result of compromises aiming to political or other benefits. The future of the Greek athletics urgently needs certain steering and a clear – and clean - direction to walk. It’s the least duty to some thousands of new athletes entered the gyms during the last years, to the numerous talents who started dreaming their own future.

Kuzenkova and Karjialianen won in Szombathely
05.09.2004: Olli-Pekka Karjalainen and Olga Kuzenkova won the first event of the World Athletics Final, held in Szombathely, Hungary. The other events are held in Monte Carlo on September 18-19.
• Results from [World Athletics Final] (hammer throw events). Results from [Rieti Grand Prix]

Fani Chalkia tests at 400m in Berlin
05.09.2004: The 400m hurdles Olympic Champion, Fani Chalkia, participates in the IAAF Golden League meeting to be helid in Berlin, on Septemeber 12. Chalkia will run in the 400m race to make a test at this event. After the 400mh final in Athens her coach Giorgos Panayotopoulos stated that Chalkia must include some 400m races in her program, as he believes that after the appropriate preparation she could clocked around 49 seconds. The national record of the event stands at 51.68, the mark set Chalkia during the Indoor World Championships in Budapest, while the all time outdoor best is 51.81 set by Chrissa Goudenoudi in 2002.
Christos Meletoglou is a second Greek participant in Berlin, his last competition for this season.

Saaeed Saif Shaheen breaks the 3000m steeple record. Isinbayeva cleared 4.92m and Powell clocked 9.87 in Brussels
03.09.2004: Quatar's Saif Shaheen kept his promise to break the 3000m steeplechase world record in the IAAF Golden League Meeting "Memorial Van Damme", with 7:53.63. Shaheen did not compete in Athens Olympics as he hadn't complete the required period of time after changing his nationality. The previous record was 7:55.67 set by Morroco's Brahim Boulami in 2002.
Another world record from Yelena Isinbayeva, the 7th since February, this time with 4.92m. Jamaica's Asafa Powell set a national record of 9.87 to win the 100m in , leaving Shawn Crawford on second place with 9.99.
Felix Sanchez, among four athletes who were in contention for the jack pot, pulled out during the meeting injured. One more, Hestrie Cloete defeated by the Olympic Champion, Yelena Slesarenko, who cleared 2.00m. One step before the end, the only remaining candidates for the jack pot are Tonique Williams, the winner of the 400m in 49.59 and Christian Olsson who dominated the triple jump with 17.44m
• [Results] Read also [Greece is focus on IAAF drug investigation], from Washinghton Post

46 Olympic Medals in Memorial Van Damme
03.09.2004: No less than 46 medals from the Olympics in Athens will participate at the 28th Memorial Van Damme (IAAF Golden League Meeting) to be held in Brussels tomorrow.
Two Greeks, Christos Meletoglou in the triple jump (sixth in Athens) and Konstantina Efentaki, semifinalist in the 1500m. are among the participants.
• [Results] [Entry lists], from the official site of the meeting

New leadership in Greek Athletics
01.09.2004: The Greek Athletics Federation (SEGAS) announced the resignation of its Administration and called for Elections for September 25th. During the meeting held today the Administration of the Greek Federation also accepted the resignation of the headcoach Odysseas Papatolis and defined a three-member committee for the further investigation of the "Tzekos-Kenteris-Thanou case".

August 2004

The day after
29.08.2004: Greece still celebrates the closing of the 28th Olympic Games and the words of approval reported by the main international media, but in the background the official enquiry on dopping, carried out by the Prosecutors, has been in progress.
The investigation started before the end of the Games and yesterday, Kostas Kenteris testified for about seven hours.As he left the prosecutors' office Kenteris said only that he had talked about his "situation throughout the last few years" and that he wanted to compete again.
Both, Kenteris and Thanou, have now a great opportunity to talk openly about everything, even those which may complicate their position.

Chalkia and Devetzi in Monaco, Meletoglou in Brussels
29.08.2004: The 400m hurdles Olympic Champion Fani Chalkia is preparing for her participation in the World Athletics Final to be held in Monte Carlo on September 18-19. Pigi Devetzi, silver medalist in the triple jump will also participate in the Final, while Christos Meletoglou who place 6th in the triple jump in Athens confirmed his participation in the Brussels Golden League on Friday.

The win of Stefano Baldini in Marathon signals the end of the Games
29.08.2004: The win of Stefano Baldini in the Marathon was the epilogue of the 28th Olympic Games. The runners of Africa failed to verify the forecasts losing once more the Classic Race. Baltini clocked 2:10.55 to repeat the triump of his compatriot Gelido Bordin, who was the last Olympic Champion from Europe in 1988. Also the Italian Marathon runner broke, after 35years, the record of the Classic distance set by Bill l Adcocks (2:11.07). Mebrahtom Keflezighi placed second, while Brazil's Sanderlei Da Silva got the bronze medal.
It was the first time that Athletics events were hosted in three different venues, built in three periods of history. The modern Olympic Stadium, the All-Marble Stadium built in 19th century for the first Olympics of the modern era and the Ancient Olympia Place.
"I am an extremely happy President" said Dr. Rogge in the press conference contacted today, summarizing his impressions from the Games.
• [President Diack: WONDERFUL] [Full Results of the 11th day] [Event by event report from the IAAF] [Greece bids Games farewell], from BBC ["We were wrong"], from CNN

Annus to return the gold medal
29.08.2004: Hungary's Adrian Annus has to return the gold medal he won in the hammer throw, the IOC announced in Athens in the afternoon. The IOC accepts that Annus violated the anti-doping legislation. It's the third athletics gold medal to be returned, after those won by Russia's Korzhanenko and the other Hungarian Robert Fazekas.

Holmes and El Guerrouj double the golds. Fantastic wins for Slesarenko, Borzakovskiy and Thorklissen
28.08.2004: Actually it was the last day of athletics, a day full of top marks, joy, music and celebrating atmosphere in the Athens Olympic Stadium. The party started with Kelly Holmes, who managed a second gold, in the 1500m this time, with an amazing sprinting in the last meters. Holmes clocked a national record of 3:57.81 and made thousands of British to start dancing in the stadium. Few minutes later, the 1500m Olympic champion, Hicham El Guerrouj made also the double, dominating the 5000m. The other Olympic champion of the race, Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele did not stand the attack by the Morrocan, who crossed the line in triumph with 13:14.39. An historical race for El Guerrouj, only Paavo Nurmi has to present the same achievement 80 years ago, in the Olympics of 1932.
The 22-year-old Yelena Slesarenko, one of the main surprises of the season, achieved to beat the favorite,  Hestrie Coete, jumping 2.04 with her first attempt. The Russian set a new national record at 2.06m and then she tried unsuccessfully to break the world record with 2.10m. An athlete with a brilliant future indeed! All the medallists were over the 2.00m tonight, as Vita Styopina who got the bronze also cleared 2.02m. Another revelation of this season, Norway's Andreas Thorkildsen is the new javelin throw Olympic Champion. He improved twice his personal best to win with 86.50m, in front of Latvia's Vadims Vasilevskis who also set a personal best at 84.95m and the favorite, Russia's Sergey Makarov who was third with 84.84m.
Yuriy Borzakovskiy was crying during the medals ceremony, few minutes after his historical win in the 800m final. The 23-year-old reached the line in 1:44.45 to claim the first individual gold medal for the Russian squad, but also the first Olympic gold for his country in this event.
The USA teams were the expected winners in both 4X400m relays. But it was the British team the winner of the men's 4X100m, beating the Americans and giving to the British a good reason to continue dancing.
The 10th day of the Olympics tops off the brilliant athletics events of these ten days, bringing the closing ceremony closer and leaving an early melancholy to those we were found in the stadium these days, for what we'll miss so much in the next weeks.[Full Results of the 10th day]

Xiang Liu equalled the world record. Menendez 71.53m, bronze for Manjani.
27.08.2004: The 9th day of the Athletics was the big day for China. Xiang Liu clocked 12.91 in the 110m hurdles final to equal the record of the event, set by Colin Jackson in August 20th, 1993. Later, Huina Xing dominated the 10000m in front of three Ethiopians, running the distance in 30.24.36.
Three Russians, exceeded the 7m in the long jump to take all medals. The bronze medalist of the triple jump, Tatyana Lebedeva got this time the gold with 7.07m, followed by Irina Simagina and Tatyana Kotova, both at 7.05. Marion Jones placed 5th (6.85).
Jamaica's 4X100m relay team got the olympic title in women's, followed by Russia and France. The American team did not finalize as a bungled second change between Marion Jones and Lauryn Williams put them out of the contest. A difficult night for Jones which leaves Athens without any medal.
The javelin throw reserved one more unforgettable event for the Olympics. Menendez opened the final with a throw at 71.53m, just one centimeter off the world record. The crowd watched breathless the last attempt of the 8 throwers. Steffi Nerius, who was just one centimeter out of the medals, sent the javelin to 65.82m to get the second position and leave Czech's Nicola Brejckova third with 64.23m and Greece's Mirela Manjani fourth with 63.61m. But Manjiani replied with 64.29m, while Brejkova could not react in her last attempt. Menendez, Nerius and Manjani won the medals, while Brejkova, who was in the medals from the beginning of the final placed fourth.
It was the 5th athletics medal for Greece in the 28th Olympic Games. Mirela Manjani was born in 1976 and she is the reigning World Champion as well the reigning European Champion. In addition she won the gold medal in the World Championships in 1999. Today she got her second olympic medal, after the silver won in Sydney 2000. In 1999 she set the first world record with the javelin of the new type with 67.09m which is her personal best.[Full Results of the 9th day] [Event by event report by the IAAF]

Fourth Olympic gold for Robert Korzheniowski
27.08.2004: The greatest ever walker, Poland's Robert Korzeniowski, won today his fourth olympic gold medal, after the historical double he made in Sydney and the gold medal in 50000m won in Atlanta. The new record holder of the 50000m, Russian Denis Nizhegorodov, almost collapsed on the finishing line to keep the silver and one more Russian, Alexei Voyevodin took the bronze.

19.79 for Crawford. Three Americans on the pondium of the 200m
26.08.2004: Shawn Crawford won the 200m final in a personal best, followed by his compatriots Bernard Williams and Justin Gatlin, the 100m Olympic Champion. One of the highlights of the Olympics was shadowed by the behavior from numerous spectators who protested against Kenteris’ absence from the Olympics. Only Frank Fredericks applauded by the crowd, which provoked a delay of the race with a continuous disapproval. Certainly an exception in these magnificent Olympics, which has of course its causes. Was it a very singular expression of patriotism, a lack of information or a low level of sports education? We are not responsible to reply. But it’s pity. Greece managed to organize unforgettable Olympics,  to host a record participation of athletes from 202 countries on the highest standards ever. Athletes of the country win medals every day. Greeks should be proud for these achievements. The country which offered athletics to the world does not need these ways of expression, fitting better to the hooligans of some football stadiums.
Dwight Phillips won one more gold for the US. Jumping a 8.59m he dominated easily the long jump, where Jon Moffit placed second and Spain’s Joan Martinez third.
The 41st consecutive win of Felix Sanchez was the more important in his career. The reigning world champion verified all forecasts and won in 47.64. The silver medal won by Jamaica’s Danny McFarlane and the bronze by France’s Naman Keita. [Full Results of the 8th day]

IAAF Statement on Greek Athletes and Coach
26.08.2004: From IAAF: "On 18 August 2004, the IOC Executive Board took a decision to refer the cases of Konstantinos Kenteris, Ekaterini Thanou and Christos Tzekos to the IAAF for further action under IAAF Rules, including possible sanctions.
The IAAF Council has considered the IOC’s decision and has today appointed the IAAF Doping Review Board to conduct an Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the lead up to and eventual withdrawal of Kenteris and Thanou from the Olympic Games in Athens on 18 August 2004.
The purpose of the Inquiry is to establish whether sufficient evidence exists to charge any person with a Doping Violation or other breach of IAAF Rules. If such evidence exists, disciplinary proceedings will be initiated in accordance with the standard procedures laid down in IAAF Rules.
The Doping Review Board Inquiry will commence immediately."

The stadium is burning for Fani Chalkia
25.08.2004: Just one week ago none could predict that Greece's Fani Chalkia would be the Olympic Champion of the 400m hurdles. Only after the qualification round, when Fani smashed the national record walking in the last meters, the 25-year runner was taken into serious consideration, while she actually joint the favourites after her impressing olympic record in the semifinals. Tonight Chalkia became the third Greece's woman who gets the olympic crown, after Voula Patoulidou and Athanassia Tsoumeleka, running in 52.82 and leaving far behind all the big stars of the event. Running a relatively slow first part, she accelarated after the 200m sweeping everyone in the last meters.
"I am in tremendous shape", said Chalkia after the race "I entered the stadium saying that there is not any chance to be defeated. We are Greeks, we carry a long history, we should show to the world that we can win. I am so proud tonight".
Later, talking to the "New Hellenic Television" her coach Giorgos Panayotopoulos analyzed the technical features of the final, as well as his training strategy on the Olympic Champion. "She could run the 400m in a time around 49" but she prefers the hurdles. We'll include some 400m races in our program though. Our schedule for this season includes at least one more big meeting, maybe in Monaco, while next year we'll attempt for the world record" he added.
The new Olympic Champion showed a strong potential earlier this year, when he placed 6th in the World Indoor Championships in Budapest, where she also led the national relay team to the 6th place in the final.
Meanwhile, rumors are entangled with the reality, regarding the positive tests in the Olympics. Although at noon the Greek National Radio reported that the winner of the triple jump Cameroonese Francoise Mbango failed the drug test, nothing has been verified yet. It is the second time in these Olympics that a winner is said to be positive without any official confirmation.[Full Results of the 7th day]

World Juniors Record for Alisson Felix
25.08.2004: In the other great final of the 7th day, the women's 200m, Veronica Campbell won the gold with 22.05, while 18-year-old Alisson Felix broke the world juniors record with 22.18 to take the silver. Debbie Ferguson, of the Bahamas, claimed bronze.

Hicham El Guerrouj won the race of the Games. World Record by Isinbayeva
24.08.2004: El Guerrouj made history tonight in Athens, winning the only precious title he hadn't addef to his collection, the Olympics gold. Hicham dominated an unforgettable 1500m final after a close fight with Lagat in the final 80 meters. Portugal's Rui Silva gets the bronze medal.
Few minutes later the competition between Isinbayeva and Feofanova ended with a world record by Yelena at 4.91m. Isinbayeva, who had failed at 4.70m and 4.75m., got the gold with her only remaining attempt at 4.80m and deified by the spectators when she made a really huge vault over the record.
The first hudle in the 100m race was fatal not only for Devers yesterday, but also for Felicien, the favourite of the final. Irina Shevchenko of Russia who was running in the lane just outside Felicien was also taken down by the Canadian’s rolling body. Joanna Hayes won the race with an olympic record of 12.37, followed by Olena Krasowska of Ukraine and the other American, Melissa Morrison.
The Kenyans verified their domination in the steeplechase, sweeping all medals, while Sebrle won the deacathlon gold with a total of 8.893 points, a new olympic record. Bryan Clay finished second with 8820p and Kazakhstan's Dmitry Karpov third with an Asian record of 8725 points.
Olympics Athletics Results: Day 6

Alekna got discus gold
24.08.2004: The IOC announced that Robert Fazekas lost the discus throw gold medal, as the athlete tried to manipulate the antidoping control. It was also announced that Belarus' high jumper Aleksey Lesnichiy, who failed to make the final, is to be thrown out of the Games after testing positive for clenbuterol.

More problems...
23.08.2004: Greek media report more doping problems in the Olympics. According to them a medal winner of the women's 100m has been tested positive and a formal announcement is expected in the next hours. In addition, one more problem could be connected with the Discus Throw Olympic Champion Robert Fazekas. According to the same media, Fazekas gave inadequate sample after the end of the final and then he left the stadium althought he had been warned that the quantity given is not adequate for the test.
Olympics Athletics Results: Day 6

Mbango wins first Olympic Gold for Cameroon - Devetzi triumphs for Greece
23.08.2004: Francoise Mbango, twice silver medalist in the World Championships in 2001 and 2003, was the winner of the strongest ever triple jump competition in Athens. Four girls exceeded the 15 meters, but Mbango's African record at 15.30 m. was the best. Greece's Pigi Devetzi, who jumped 15.32 m. in the qualification round got the silver with 15.25m., while the favorite of the event, Russia's Tatyana Lebedeva jumped 15.14 m. to get the bronze. Trecia Smith of Jamaica was fourth with 15.02m, while Sudan's Yamile Aldama was fifth with 14.99m.
Pigi Devetzi was born in 1976 and started her sport career in Gymnastics. In 2001 she was 5th in the Mediterranean Games and next year placed 7th in the European Championships in Munich. In the World Championships held in Paris last year she was 8th, while last winter won the bronze medal in the World Indoor Championships in Budapest. She is training with the former Greek triple jump champion Sofia Bakatsaki.
Kelly Holmes spread enthusiasm to the numerous British in the Olympic Stadium, with her close win in the 800m in 1:56.38, Britain’s first Olympic middle distance gold medal since 1984. Benhassi, from Morocco, set a national record of 1:56.43 to go with the silver medal, but Ceplak was so close, that the Slovenian was given the same time. Surprisingly, Maria Mutola was fourth with 1:56.51.
The final of the 400 m. was a triumph for the US as all medals were sweeped by the Americans. Jeremy Wariner clocked 44.00 to get the title, followed by Harris and Brew. Robert Fazekas set an Olympic Record of 70.93 m. to defeat the favourite, Virjilius Alekna who was second. Finally, Ethiopia's Meseret Defar dominated the women's 5000m, followed Kenya's Isabella Ochichi and her compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba. The world record holder of the event, Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse was just 12th.
Olympics Atletics Results: Day 5

Tsoumeleka drives Greece mad
23.08.2004: Athanassia Tzoumeleka, a 22-year-old talented walker, made the big surprise in the first event of the 5th day in Athens. Supporting by a huge crowd in the roads surrounding the Olympic Stadium, Tsoumeleka got the gold medal in the women's 20000m walking race, with 1:29.12. Tsoumeleka took the lead after the 17th kilometer and achieved to overcome the strong pressure by Russia's Olympiada Ivanova, the world record holder, who tried twice to pass on. The other Greek walker, Athina Papayianni, placed 10th.
"I wanted this medal" said the new Olympic Champion after the race. "I was so fast during the training period and wondering if the others could be so fast. I have never seen so much people in a walking event. This crowd who ran in the parallel road to encourage me made me so strong. Thanks God, thanks to the people, thanks to the other Greek walkers who have so much helped me."
Tsoumeleka was born in 2 January 1982 and showed very early her potential in 2000 when she placed 4th in the World U23 Championships. Next year she took the silver medal in the European U23 Championships, while in 2002 placed 9th in the European Champs. Last year she was 7th in the Paris World Championships, promising a better performance in Athens. And she did the best.

Justin, Francis, Fani and the Swedish. A magic night in Athens
22.08.2004: About 80.000 spectators enjoyed historical moments tonight in the Athens Olympic Stadium. The fourth day of athletics, reserved amazing moments in almost all events. Justin Gatlin topped the fastest ever 100m final in 9.85, followed by Portugal's Francis Obikwelu who set a European record in 9.86 and Maurice Greene who ran a 9.87 to take the bronze.
Stefan Holm and Christian Olsson added more gold to the Swedish team. Althought both were the clear favourites of their events, Holm proved once more how the really great athlete compete and win. Challenged by the Americans, Holm was just fifth at 2.34m, but he needed only one attempt to catch the gold at 2.36m.
In the women's Marathon, the Classic course produced an epic race, where courage was ultimately rewarded with triumph for Mizuki Noguchi of Japan, the new women’s Olympic Marathon champion. The silver medal went to last year’s World champion, Catherine Ndereba and the bronze to Deena Kastor. The favourite of the race, Paula Radcliffe did not finalize
Adian Annus won the hammer with 83.19m, followed by Koji Murofushi who sent the hammer to 82.91m. Belarus' Ivan Tikhon was third with 79.81m.
Fani Chalkia made an unbelievable 400m hurdles semifinal, smashing almost all records. Her 52.77 is an Olympic Record, the 6th all time world performance for the event, a wold leading mark for this season and of course a national record. The final is scheduled for Wednesday, just few minutes before men's 200m final. The new heroe is to be born to offer the balsam to the Greek crowd.
Finally, Christos Meletoglou had an excellent performance in the triple jump final today, getting the 6th place with 17.13m.
Results: Olympic's Athletics Day 4

Korzhanenko failed drug test
22.08.2004: Irina Korzhanenko, the only woman in history who won an Olympic title into the Ancient Stadium of Olympia, failed the drug test after her win. Althought there is not a formal announcement by the IOC, French media reports that the winner of the shot put tested positive for steroid. The Russian Champion was also banned for two years in 1999 by the IAAF because of drug use.

Nesterenko, Sadova, Kluft won golds. Devetzi flies to 15.32m
21.08.2004: Yuliya Nesterenko of Belarus captured the Olympic title in the 100 metres, running the final in 10.93. Nesterenko who had all races under 11 seconds, followed by Lauryn Williams who clocked 10.96 and Jamaica's Veronica Campbell who got the bronze. The big surprise happened in the semifinal where Christine Arron failed to make the final.
Russia's Natalya Sadova dominated the discus throw with 67.02m, while Greece's Anastassia Kelesidou was again second. The second Olympic silver for the Greek, while she had won also two silvers in World Championships. The bronze medal went to the reigning world champion, Irina Yatchenko of Belarus, while Katerina Voggoli was 8th.
Sweden's Carolina Kluft was the expected heptathlon Olympic Champion, with a total of 6952 points, followed by Lithuania's Skujyte Austra and Kelly Sotherton of Great Britain.
The stadium was taken off tonight by an amazing jump of Chrisopigi Devetzi, in the triple jump qualification round. The bronze medalist of the world indoor championships this year landed to 15.32m to become the third all time world performer.
In the highlights of the the are also included the failure of Stacey Dragila in the pole vault qualification round and one more record for Greece by Argyro Strataki who was 15th in the Heptathlon with 6117 points.
Results: Olympics' Athletics Day 3

Bekele won historical race. Greek medal hopes in two events
21.08.2004: Kenenisa Bekele won the Olympic title in the 10000m race, in a historical for Ethiopia's running race, where Gebreselasie attempted a third Olympic gold. Although Gebre, strongly supported by his compatriots, placed fifth, Ethiopia also won the silver whith Shihine, while Zersenay Tadesse was the surprise bronze medallist, clocking a national record of 27:22.57, becoming Eritrea’s first ever Olympic medalist.
Yesterday morning an Italian walker won the first athletics gold. Ivano Brugnetti clocked 1:19.40 in the 20000m to get the title, followed by Spain's Javier Fernandez and Australia's Nathan Diekes.
Meanwhile, the Greek athletics seem to overcome the shock by the latest developments in Tzekos' scandal. Christos Meletoglou jumped a season's best of 17.09 to qualify for the triple jump final, while three Greek girls will participate in the discus final. Sydney's and Paris' silver medalist Tasoula Kelesidou, the European Champion and Paris' bronze medalist Katerina Voggoli, attempted only once to secure an easy qualification. Later, Stella Tsikouna, 6th in Sydney, was also added to the Greek trio, able to win medals in the final.
Finally, the Saturday's morning session deserved one more pleasant time for the Greeks. Fani Halkia, almost walking in the last meters, clocked 53.88 in the 400m hurdles qualification round. It's one more national record by Fani, who seems to be in excellent shape and targets a position in the final Results: Olympics' Athletics Day 2

Eventually Withdrawn - Kenteris' and Thanou's Case to be judged by IAAF
18.08.2004: Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou pulled out of the Olympics today. Now, the IAAF have to decide about their future, on August 26th. Kenteris also announced the end of his collaboration with Christos Tzekos, while the Greek media reports that the headcoach, Mr. Odysseas Papatolis, has also resigned. Their decision, althought delayed, was the best solution, as their case has overshadowed enough the brilliant Olympic Games already in process. It's time to enjoy the athletics events now, while after the games we'll be back in this case, as we know that the anti-doping war just starts.

After 1611 years, back to ancient Olympia
18.08.2004: The ancient Olympic Stadium in Olympia opened today to host the shot put finals, 1611 years after the last Olympic Games of the ancient era. More than 15.000 spectators watched Yuriy Belonog and Irina Korzhanenko to win the Olympic crown in the ancient place. The men's competition was the best ever in olympic final, as the Ukrainian won the gold just with his last attempt, when he equalled Adam Nelson's 20.17m. But Nelson, having 5 fault shots, got once more the silver medal. Results: Olympics' Athletics Day 1

Kenteris and Thanou out of the Greek team
14.08.2004: One day after the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, a full of symbolisms, history and mythology 3-hours-long event that impressed the whole world, the Greek Olympic Commitee tried to give an end, a "deus ex machina" solution to the hubris that seems to cover the Olympic Spirit. Chris Tzekos' sprinters, Kenteris and Thanou, are out of the Olympics, temporarily, until the IOC decides what will happen with them. In fact, the Greek Olympic Commitee's decision serves as a media warning of what's next. And what's that? Probably the IOC will be very strict on its rules, convicting the two athletes to a 2 years ban for failing to sit for a doping test. No, a new testing is not going to be held. IOC has its rules and they were broken. No matter how important the two athletes are for Greece, the country that hosts the Olympics, there's no way that the IOC will accept to become a fool of herself and accept to play with Chris Tzekos' rules. Greek governments and Athletics federals have done it for many years -and now they pay for it. The Greek people will always remember it's Sydney Golden and Silver medallists, but now have other things to care about: Giving to the world the best Olympics possible and celebrating for the new champions that will emerge in these Games...
•ÄéáâÜóôå Áêüìç: Åí Ïßêù: "Ðþò öèÜóáìå ùò åäþ" (Üñèñï ôïõ Ìé÷Üëç Íéêçôáñßäç)

Stop playing with the Olympic Spirit!
13.08.2004: Tonight Athens becomes the heart of the whole world, as the Olympic Games start with the Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium. But it seems that an ancient tragedy is taking place as well. A tragedy that leads to the death of the Olympic Spirit right in the place where it was born. Kenteris and Thanou were supposedly injured in a motorcycle crash last night.
They 're probably losing the Olympics. But that is not the point this time. Few Greeks still believe that their idols were victimised. Chris Tzekos' athletes seem to be involved in the biggest ever scandal of Greek Sports, after failing to sit for a drug test yesterday evening and after not attending the IOC hearing this morning. Even if the two athletes are clear, a lot of questions will be asked to mr. Tzekos. For example, who has given him the right to play games with the Olympic Spirit the same day the Games start? How can a coach of such athletes like a Golden and a Silver Olympic Medallist leave them ride a motorbike during midnight, just days before their races? And not only Tzekos, of course, is to blame, but the whole system of Greek Sports and Media, that not only leave him play his games all these years, but also hide them from the public.
Whatever the end of the scandal will be, the reality is that the Olympics start today. Let's save all the dignity that we 're left with and give to the world some great Games. Let's give them the Games that will be remembered not for our misery but for our hospitality and for our tries to bring the Olympic Spirit back.

No chance for cheaters - An antidoping revolution starts in Athens
12.08.2004: On Th