The Greeks may be able to organise an Olympic Games -- but they sure can't organise a press conference.
The media pack was out in force this evening outside the offices of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, waiting for what turned out to be a meaningless announcement by HOC president, Lambis Nikolaou.
When Nikolaou finally emerged, there was utter chaos. I was kneeling on the floor beneath his feet and nearly got trampled to death in the scrum.
Nikolaou said the HOC had decided to bat the problem of what to do about Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou's failure to take a drugs test back to the International Olympic Committee.
By a 5 to 1 majority, the HOC suspended the pair pending Monday's scheduled IOC disciplinary hearing - a completely empty gesture since they're not due to be released from hospital until tomorrow at the earliest.
Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, a lawyer representing the sprinters and coach then emerged from the HOC headquarters.
You'd have thought he was being paid by the word because he wouldn't shut up, ranting for about 15 minutes in Greek and refusing to answer any questions in English.
"Our champions are clean," he insisted.
"There has been no violation of the doping regulations. They have nothing to hide, they have done nothing wrong. All these allegations will collapse."
The media pack was out in force this evening outside the offices of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, waiting for what turned out to be a meaningless announcement by HOC president, Lambis Nikolaou.
When Nikolaou finally emerged, there was utter chaos. I was kneeling on the floor beneath his feet and nearly got trampled to death in the scrum.
Nikolaou said the HOC had decided to bat the problem of what to do about Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou's failure to take a drugs test back to the International Olympic Committee.
By a 5 to 1 majority, the HOC suspended the pair pending Monday's scheduled IOC disciplinary hearing - a completely empty gesture since they're not due to be released from hospital until tomorrow at the earliest.
Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, a lawyer representing the sprinters and coach then emerged from the HOC headquarters.
You'd have thought he was being paid by the word because he wouldn't shut up, ranting for about 15 minutes in Greek and refusing to answer any questions in English.
"Our champions are clean," he insisted.
"There has been no violation of the doping regulations. They have nothing to hide, they have done nothing wrong. All these allegations will collapse."
posted by Stuart at 19:54
3 Comments:
Stuart, Hopefully you will not lose sight of the games because of two athletes (however well known they are) going through an inquiry. There are enough tabloids reporting. Has anything else happened in Athens since the Games have been opened??
Stewart, What do you think of this story about security?
Stuart, What do you think of this story about security?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3566410.stm
And do you agree with Greece's Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis' comment, that "the article was a "profound insult to journalism and the principles of objective and responsible reporting".
"I would recommend to Mr Graham to read fewer detective novels," he said in a statement.
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