Greek Olympic medallist Devetzis denies doping allegations

Athens, Sep 26 (IANS) Greek veteran triple jumper Pigi Devetzis, who won the silver medal in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and the bronze in the 2008 Beijing Games, has admitted that she was under inquiry by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding her participation in the Beijing Olympics, but strongly denied allegations that she had used doping substances.

In November 2015, Greece's Athletics Federation (SEGAS) announced that Greek authorities were formally notified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) that Devetzis had tested positive for a banned substance in 2007, reports Xinhua.

The athlete expressed severe doubts regarding the entire anti-doping test procedures, but lost the bronze medal she won in the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Devetzis retired after IAAF gave her a two-year ban from taking part in tournaments after her refusal to submit a sample to anti-doping controllers in May 2009 in Ukraine.

Greek daily "Ethnos" (Nation) reported this weekend that Devetzis was tested positive also for a banned substance in 2008 and she will lose her Beijing Games medal.

Through her lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, she issued a press release on Sunday acknowledging that IOC has opened a disciplinary process against her.

"Due to confidentiality clauses I can only state that Pigi Devetzis never used banned substances and this will be proved during the process," according to the statement.