The fall of Kenteris and Thanou a tragedy made in Greece

ATHENS: Among the many honours showered on Olympic champion Kostas Kenteris were lucrative sponsorship deals and streets named after him, as well as a high-speed ferry carrying his name. 

The farm-boy from the northeastern Greek island of Mytilini became a household name almost as soon as he won the gold in the 200-metre at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He was the first Greek man to win a running event medal for Greece since the Olympic revival in 1896.