Greece drug case delay

Greece's embarrassing drugs scandal involving Olympic sprint champion Kostas Kenteris and training partner Katerina Thanou could drag on for several days, it emerged today.

Although the the International Olympic Committee wants the case dealt with today so that it does not overshadow the first few days of action here, a quick resolution is looking increasingly unlikely.

Sources for the pair indicate that even if the IOC disciplinary commission, which will rule on the controversy today, decides to throw them out, they are preparing to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The hearing got under way early this morning without Kenteris and Thanou. They are still in hospital recovering from injuries sustained in a lmotrobike crash late on Friday night, hours after they are alleged to have missed drugs tests at the athlete's village.

Doctors say they are still not well enough to attend today's hearing. Kenteris has complained of headaches and dizziness while Thanou has abdominal pains.

The pair are accused of not making themselves available for doping controls, an offence regarded as as serious as a positive test for a banned substance.