Greek sprinter fails test

State television said the 29-year-old, who was due to compete in the 200 metres in Beijing, tested positive during tests conducted by the Greek anti-doping agency ESKAN before the team left for training in Japan.

The date of the test was not revealed.

From July 27, the start of the official Olympic period, tests are conducted by the International Olympic Committee until the end of the Games on August 24.

The IOC has also urged international federations to boost tests ahead of the Games.

Several Greek athletes, including 11 weightlifters, a boxer and a swimmer, have tested positive for banned substances in the past months following tougher controls imposed by the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the federations ahead of the Games.

The HOC had said it would increase the number of tests to avoid the embarrassment created by sprinters Katerina Thanou and Costas Kenteris when they missed a scheduled drugs test on the eve of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

HOC officials could not be immediately reached for a comment on the positive test which came only hours after the Games' opening ceremony.