Thanou unlikely to get Sydney gold

Athletics: IOC president Jacques Rogge appears to have ruled out awarding a retrospective gold medal to Greek sprinter Katerina…

Athletics:IOC president Jacques Rogge appears to have ruled out awarding a retrospective gold medal to Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou, insisting Olympic chiefs have to be convinced she was "clean" of drugs.

Thanou finished runner-up to the USA's Marion Jones in the 100m final in 2000, but the American recently returned the five medals she won in Sydney after admitting steroid use.

The Greek sprinter was later banned for two years herself after failing to appear for a drugs test at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Rogge said: "We will examine the case of Katerina Thanou at the next executive board meeting.

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"We examine upgrading of each athlete on its own merits, and we want them to be clean.

"Upgrading is not automatic. Every potential upgraded athlete will be scrutinised. We have to be absolutely sure that they are clean."