Greek hurdler Halkia submits written testimony on doping case

ATHENS, Greece – Disgraced Greek hurdler Fani Halkia has submitted written testimony to a prosecutor investigating the doping case that led to her expulsion from the Beijing Olympics. The 29-year-old Halkia and her lawyer spent 40 minutes Tuesday in the office of Athens prosecutor Costas Simitzoglou, who is investigating whether the runner broke Greek law by taking banned substances. Halkia, who denies any wrongdoing, made no comment after leaving the court complex. The 2004 Olympic 400-meter hurdles gold medalist tested positive for the steroid methyltrienolone on Aug. 16 — the 15th Greek athlete to do so this year. She denies knowingly using the substance. Halkia's lawyer, Giorgos Agiostratitis, said he also handed the prosecutor a written statement from her coach, Giorgos Panagiotopoulos, whom he also represents. As part of the Halkia probe, Simitzoglou is investigating whether Panagiotopoulos and sprinter Tassos Gousis — another of the 15 — broke the law. – AP