AthleticsAthletics chiefs have admitted the missed drugs test wrangle of Greek sprint duo Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou could rumble on until December.
The case has dominated Olympic headlines virtually every day since the Games began a fortnight ago and has led to accusations by the Greek media that their athletes are being victimised.
So obsessive has reporting of the whole drugs saga become that Greek TV spent much of yesterday reporting home star Hrysopiyi Devetzi as the new triple-jump gold medallist amid rumours that Cameroon's Francois Mbango Etone had tested positive - rumours that subsequently proved to be completely untrue.
The IAAF are aghast at the media frenzy and have urged journalists to be more responsible.
Yet, on the day another two Olympians have been booted out for drug offences, the IAAF confirmed they are powerless to prevent Kenteris and Thanou competing once the Games are over and admitted it could be months before the mess is sorted out.
"This is being treated as a number one priority," said IAAF spokesman Nick Davies.
"It is a serious matter and we realise the credibility of Greek sport and the IAAF is at stake.
"It is difficult to say how long, it could be weeks, maybe even months.
"There is a council meeting at the beginning of December and that is probably the latest date this case will be concluded.
"Until then, the athletes are free to race because no athlete can be suspended until they have had a charge levelled against them."
IAAF president Lamine Diack, senior vice-president Arne Ljungqvist and council member Bob Hersch will head the review panel which will collect information from both sporting and legal bodies and then decide whether there is sufficient evidence to bring a charge against Kenteris, Thanou and their coach Christos Tzekos, who all surrendered their accreditation to the IOC last Wednesday.
Under IAAF rules, the athletes could receive a maximum one-year suspension should they be found guilty of three "no-shows".
One investigation into an alleged missed test in Tel Aviv last month is already under way and the IOC were about to rule on two more - in Chicago and at the Games Village - when Kenteris and Thanou pulled out.
The final verdict will be delivered by the Greek Athletics Federation, who will be responsible for the hearing should the IAAF panel decide there is enough evidence to warrant a prosecution.
Amid the many drug stories, there is speculation about the destination of the accreditations handed in by Kenteris and Thanou, which now seem likely to end up in the vaults of the IOC headquarters in Lausanne.
