(Sports Network) - The International Olympic Committee confirmed Monday that Greece's Fani Halkia, the Olympic record holder in the 400m hurdles, tested positive for methyltrienolone. Halkia was set to participate in the hurdles heats on Sunday, but instead was sent home because of the positive test, which the IOC says the sample was made August 10 in Japan during Greek training. The IOC's medical director was informed of the result of the first sample on August 16. A day later another sample was tested, which confirmed the positive result.

The Greek NOC suspended Halkia and she left the Olympic village.

The news is the latest in a series of doping violations by Greek athletes. Halkia is the 15th Greek athlete in the last three months to fail a drug test. Before the Games, the executive board of the IOC ruled Greek runner Katerina Thanou out of the Beijing Games due to her participation in a drug-testing scandal at the 2004 Summer Games in her home country. Tassos Gousis also tested positive for the same substance as Halkia, as did 11 weightlifters, a boxer and a swimmer.

The IOC notified Greek authorities regarding possible violations of that country's law by Chalkia's coach. George Panagiotopoulos.



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