UPDATE 1-Olympics-Doping-Greek runner Fani Halkia tests positive
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BEIJING, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Greece's Fani Halkia, who was due to start defending her Olympic title in the 400 metres hurdles on Sunday, has tested positive for drugs, two Greek Olympic Committee officials said.
"Halkia tested positive for drugs," one official told Reuters on condition of anonymity in the early hours of Sunday.
The test was taken around Aug 10 when Halkia was in Japan with the rest of Greece's track and field team to prepare for the Games, he said. The athletics events at the Games kicked off only on Friday, one week after the opening ceremony.
The first round of the women's 400 metres hurdles is scheduled for Sunday evening, with the final on Aug 20.
The Greek Olympic Committee said in a brief statement that an athlete had been suspended after a first sample had tested positive.
It did not name the athlete but said the person had left the Olympic Village pending the results of tests on a second sample. (Additional reporting by Renee Maltezou in Athens, writing by Emma Graham-Harrison, editing by Ralph Gowling)
