Greek tragedy as Halkia fails doping test

GREECE’S defending Olympic 400m hurdles champion Fania Halkia has tested positive for banned drugs.

Halkia, 29, is understood to have tested positive for a steroid after officials from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) visited a training venue in Tokyo last week.

An IOC spokeswoman said: “Fania Halkia failed a pre-competition test conducted in Japan by WADA during the period of the Games. It was an IOC test done on our behalf by WADA as it outside Beijing.