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Greek Hurdler Expelled For Drugs Hammer Crashes Out Of Race Swimming Past Adversity Aching Liu Withdraws From Hurdles

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A Tribune wire report

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 19, 2008

The International Olympic Committee formally expelled Greek hurdler Fani Halkia from the Beijing Olympics on Monday for doping and urged Greek authorities to investigate her coach for possible criminal violations.

Halkia, the 2004 Olympic women's 400-meter hurdles champion, tested positive for the steroid methyltrienolone at a Greek training camp in Japan on Aug. 10 before arriving in Beijing.

Notified of the result, she pulled out of the Games Sunday and flew home to Greece.

The IOC, which set up a disciplinary commission to investigate the case, said Halkia had been officially kicked out of the Games and had her accreditation revoked.

The IOC asked the International Association of Athletics Federations to take any further sanctions. Under global anti-doping rules, Halkia faces a two-year ban for a steroid offense.

In addition, the IOC said it was reporting the matter to Greek authorities and requesting they investigate possible violations of Greek law, in particular by her coach, George Panagiotopoulos.

American Sarah Hammer crashed out of the Olympic women's cycling points race, falling after two racers clipped wheels in front of her and caused a pileup.

The crash happened only a few feet in front of Hammer, and she had no chance to avoid the pileup, which appeared to start when French racer Pascale Jeuland moved up the track and clipped wheels with another rider. Hammer collided with at least one other bike, tumbled to the wooden track, immediately yelped in pain and clutched her left shoulder.

It was unclear how badly Hammer was injured in the crash that came about 25 laps into the 100-lap event. She was taken to a nearby hospital for X-rays and evaluation, USA Cycling said.

Defending champion Liu Xiang pulled up lame and withdrew from the first round of the Olympic 110-meter hurdles race, leaving the host country without one of its biggest stars.

Liu, whose hamstring has been an issue for months, limped out of the block at the starting gun, took a few awkward steps, then pulled up when the second gun sounded to signal a false start.

That false start did not disqualify anybody. Liu nonetheless tore the number off his leg, turned around and walked into the tunnel, his Olympic hopes - and the great hopes of his country - dashed before he ran a single race.

He was seen limping and kicking the wall in the warm-up room and grimacing on the track before the hurdlers even lined up for the final heat of first-round qualifying.

Liu got a warm ovation from the Bird's Nest crowd when his name was announced. Soon after, as he kneeled into the starting block, he grabbed his right knee and winced in pain.

BEIJING - Natalie du Toit looked like any other athlete when she walked into the Bird's Nest, carrying the South African flag at the opening ceremonies.

But now it's time to compete. And when Du Toit takes off her prosthetic left leg Wednesday to vie for a medal in the first open water race in Olympic history, she'll surely be swimming for everyone who's ever struggled with a disability, been told they can't do something, experienced being shuffled off to be with their own kind.

"It is the first time marathon swimming will be in the Olympics, so we are all on the same path," she said. "We will all be on the same footing when we start the race."

The 24-year-old South African lost half her left leg in a horrific accident seven years ago, but she refused to let it derail her hopes of competing against the world's best athletes.

Instead of settling for Paralympics (though she will remain in Beijing after the Games to take part in that competition as well), Du Toit learned how to compensate for her missing limb.

Swimming, she said, makes her feel whole again.

"I can get in the water and be free of the prosthetic limb," she said in an interview earlier this year. "It's just me."

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