Greek fans show ugly side

Greek spectators spoiled their reputation at the Athens Olympics with last night's booing and whistling before the final of the men's 200 metres.

The excellent atmosphere in the Olympic Stadium has been a major feature of the Games with the Greeks creating a party fever.

But last night's race was marred by ugly scenes and delayed for five minutes when the packed 75,000 crowd hijacked the event by chanting "Kenteris" and "Greece".

Most of the fans would have bought their tickets expecting Greek Kostas Kenteris to defend his title successfully last night.

But he withdrew from the Games after missing a drugs test in mysterious circumstances the day before the opening ceremony.

In his absence, Shawn Crawford denied fellow American Justin Gatlin a sprint double to set up an American clean sweep for the first time since 1984.