Greek sprinter Ekaterina Thanou, herself no stranger to doping controversy, has been awarded the 100 meters silver medal won by Marion Jones at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton after the disgraced American was stripped of her medals after admitting using the banned steroid THG. Jones came second in Edmonton but all her results since September 2000 have been expunged. Thanou, however, was involved in a scandal on the eve of the 2004 Olympics in Athens when, together with compatriot Kostas Kenteris, she missed a drugs test. Thanou was subsequently banned for two years after missing what was her third test. But the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the sport's world governing body, said Monday their hands were tied when it came to the re-distribution of Jones' Edmonton silver. “Legally, we had no other choice,” IAAF spokesman Nick Davies told the BBC. “There was no evidence of Thanou committing any doping offense during the period in question, which leaves us with no alternative but to award the medal to her.” The International Olympic Committee has yet to decide how to re-allocate Jones' five medals from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, which could see Thanou awarded gold after she finished behind the American in the 100m. Earlier this month Jones, 32, began a six-month prison sentence for lying about her steroid use.Gebrselassie vs. Bekele Ethiopia's two greatest track runners Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele could meet over 10,000 meters at the Beijing Olympics. “It's up to the federation, but they could end up together in the 10km. It's a big possibility,” their manager Jos Hermens told Reuters by telephone from Edinburgh shortly after Bekele won his sixth world long-course cross country title on Sunday. Gebrselassie's fitness in a 10,000 meters race at Hengelo on May 24 will be a big factor. So too will Bekele's choice of events for Beijing. He has yet to decide whether to defend his Olympic 10,000 meters title, chase gold in the 5,000m where he was the silver medalist in Athens four years ago or tackle both races. “I can't say this far ahead but to do both would not be easy,” Bekele told a news conference in Edinburgh. “The pollution might mean I would have to focus on one.” Gebrselassie's course is much clearer. The world marathon record holder is bypassing the longer race at the Games because he is concerned the pollution could affect his health. __
