Disgraced Greek athletes finally put an end to saga

OLYMPIC champion Kostas Kenteris and Sydney silver medallist Katerina Thanou dramatically pulled out of the Athens Games - to avoid the humiliation of being thrown out.

Amid chaotic scenes, first Kenteris, then Thanou, then their controversial coach Christos Tzekos entered the Hilton Hotel and officially handed their Olympic accreditation over to the three-man IOC disciplinary panel.

While the two athletes independently strode out to protest their innocence to a massive media scrum, IOC judicial advisor Francois Carrard confirmed the case had been referred to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), who are expected to formally suspend the pair at a meeting next Thursday.