Race walker Tsoumeleka sactioned for doping

ATHENS, Greece (AP)-The IOC sanctioned Greek race walker Athanasia Tsoumeleka for blood doping at the Beijing Olympics.

The Greek Olympic Committee said it was informed Wednesday of the International Olympic Committee disciplinary committee's decision to disqualify Tsoumeleka.

Tsoumeleka, who won gold in the 20-kilometer walk at the 2004 Athens Olympics, finished ninth in Beijing.

The Greek Olympic Committee said the IOC has also asked the international track and field federation to amend the 20-kilometer results for Beijing.

Tsoumeleka was one of five athletes who tested positive in April for CERA, an advanced version of the blood-booster EPO, in retesting of Beijing samples.

Greece's track and field federation had already handed her a two-year ban, while a prosecutor charged her with breaking doping laws, which carries a maximum two-year jail sentence.

Tsoumeleka denies knowingly using the substance, and announced her retirement from competition when the positive result was announced.

Her case was one of many last year for Greek athletes. Fani Halkia, the 2004 Olympic 400-meter hurdles champion, was dropped from the team in Beijing and expelled from the athletes' village after testing positive for the anabolic steroid methyltrienolone.

Fourteen other Greek athletes, including 11 weightlifters, tested positive for the same substance before the Olympics.