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Greek official acknowledges Halkia torch mistake

Greek hurdler Fani Halkia takes part in the Greek leg of the torch relay for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic flame under the ancient Acropolis in Athens, late Wednesday Oct. 28, 2009. Greek officials will hand the flame over to Canadian organizers on Thursday, Oct. 29. Former Olympic champion Halkia was expelled from the Beijing Olympics after testing positive for a banned steroid, is currently serving a two-year competition ban for doping. She carried the Vancouver torch from the foot of the Acropolis to the entrance of the archaeological site, where the flame remained overnight. Greek Olympic officials had no immediate comment on her selection for the relay. Greek hurdler Fani Halkia takes part in the Greek leg of the torch relay for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic flame under the ancient Acropolis in Athens, late Wednesday Oct. 28, 2009. Greek officials will hand the flame over to Canadian organizers on Thursday, Oct. 29. Former Olympic champion Halkia was expelled from the Beijing Olympics after testing positive for a banned steroid, is currently serving a two-year competition ban for doping. She carried the Vancouver torch from the foot of the Acropolis to the entrance of the archaeological site, where the flame remained overnight. Greek Olympic officials had no immediate comment on her selection for the relay. (AP Photo/Newsports, Nikos Chalkiopoulos)
October 30, 2009

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ATHENS, Greece—The Greek Olympic Committee has acknowledged that it was wrong to allow a hurdler serving a doping ban to take part in the Vancouver flame relay.

Olympic Torch Relay Commission president Spyros Zannias says Fani Halkia was included in the relay after a proposal by the Greek Olympic medallists' association. Zannias said his commission "was wrong to accept the proposal," but offered no apology.

The International Olympic Committee has criticized the inclusion of Halkia, who was expelled from the 2008 Beijing Games after testing positive for steroid use. Halkia, who was banned for two years and faces a trial for steroid use, has denied knowingly taking drugs.

She is a board member of the medallists' association.

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