Prosecutors in Greece have charged three Greek sprinters, including a former 400-meter hurdles champion, with the use of banned substances. The Olympic gold medalist Fani Halkia, Tassos Gousis and Dimitris Regas face misdemeanor doping charges arising from positive tests for the steroid methyltrienolone taken in Japan on August 10th.

Halkia’s and Regas’ coach George Panagiotopoulos was charged with administering a banned substance (methyltrienolone). (”Ousted Olympic hurdler charged with steroid use,” November 1)

Former Greek Olympic hurdles champion Fani Halkia was charged with steroid use, an offense that carries a penalty of two years in jail.

Halkia’s coach, George Panagiotopoulos, was also charged Friday by a Greek prosecutor with administering banned substances and faces up to three years in prison and a fine of $26,070 if convicted. No trial date has been set.

The three sprinters are among 15 Greek athletes charged with using the banned steroid methyltrienolone. The head of the Greek Olympic Committee believes that the steroid use is a part of an organized doping effort in Greek athletics. Some of the accused have blamed the failed drug tests on a Greek doping conspiracy.