Kenteris and Thanou missed three drugs tests

After missing drug tests on the eve of the Athens Olympics, both spent four days in hospital after claiming they were injured in a motorcycle crash.

But the duo, who insist they are innocent, are accused of having faked the accident and encouraged medical staff to issue false certificates.

The trial was delayed because other cases in the Athens court overran.

Last June, Kenteris and Thanou dropped their appeals over bans from athletics for missing drugs tests in 2004.

The Greek sprinters agreed a deal with governing body the IAAF, acknowledging they breached rules by missing three dope tests ahead of the Olympics.

Kenteris, the 200m gold medallist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Thanou, who won women's 100m silver, later withdrew from the Games.

The Greek track and field federation cleared them in March 2005 of deliberately evading the tests, saying they had not been properly notified.

But the IAAF appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), overturned the Greek ruling and imposed a two-year ban.

Kenteris and Thanou still face criminal charges in Greece arising from the motorcycle crash at the heart of the case.

A hospital statement issued after they were admitted said Kenteris suffered from a lesion to the head.

Thanou was said to have bruises on the abdomen, the right thigh and the adductors of her right leg.

But a forensic surgeon who examined the pair found no evidence for such injuries.

Their coach Christos Tzekos is also on trial, charged with importing, possessing and trading banned sports substances.