Drug chief pledges to chase Greek duo

An appeal against the Greek decision to clear Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou of evading drug tests will be lodged by the World Anti-Doping Agency if the sport's governing body does not.

WADA chief Dick Pound said today that his organisation would take the case to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport if the International Association of Athletics Federations did not contest the ruling.

"The Greek federation's decision is strange but not surprising," Pound said. "I am certain that the IAAF will appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"If the IAAF accepts the Greek federation's decision, then WADA will take it up with CAS."

Kenteris and Thanou were cleared by the Greek federation on Friday of dodging drug tests before the Athens Olympics last summer. The sprinters had faced possible two-year bans and the IAAF expressed "surprise" at the decision adding that their doping review board would study the ruling.

The IAAF can accept the verdict or reject it and appeal to CAS.