Greek pair cleared of faking accident

Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou (GETTY IMAGES)

An Athens appeals court has acquitted Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou of faking a motorcycle crash in 2004.

A panel of three judges ruled there was a lack of evidence to prove the pair staged the crash to avoid a doping test on the eve of the Athens Olympics. The two had been found guilty of perjury in May.

A 33-month suspended sentence against coach Christos Tzekos for possessing banned substances was reduced.

Neither athlete was present for the verdict, but Kenteris's lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos said his client's "feeling of emotion is beyond words".