Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou will not be allowed to compete in the Beijing Games after her involvement in a doping scandal four years ago, the International Olympic Committee ruled on Sunday.
Thanou and fellow Greek sprinter Costas Kenteris were at the heart of the biggest Olympic doping affair in years when they missed a drugs test just before the Athens 2004 Games. Returning from a ban, she qualified for Beijing but needed IOC approval to compete.
"Upon receiving the recommendations of the IOC's disciplinary commission, the executive board has declared Miss Thanou ineligible to participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games," IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies told reporters.