Kenteris crisis rocks Games

On the eve of the Athens Olympics, Greece was plunged into crisis as athletics hero Kostas Kenteris failed to appear for a drugs test and was facing a possible ban from the Games.

The 200metres champion from Sydney was expected to be handed the honour of lighting the Olympic flame in Friday night’s opening ceremony.

Kenteris was seen as one of Greece’s best gold medal prospects.

He became a national hero after Sydney, and was seen as the man who would become the face of this year’s Games, like Cathy Freeman four years ago.

An International Olympic Committee doping control representative arrived in early evening at the Greek chef de mission’s office and asked to take a sample from Kenteris, who could not be found for several hours.

Greek officials asked for extra time to find Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, who was in a similar situation. She was a silver medallist at 100m in Sydney.

The International Olympic Committee were meeting tonight to discuss the development at the Athens Hilton.