Thanou, Gardener reach 60-metres finals

BIRMINGHAM, England, Mar 3 (Reuters) Controversial Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou qualified for the final of the 60 metres at the European indoor championships, finishing second to defending champion Kim Gevaert today.

Britain's Jason Gardener remained on course for a fourth successive men's title with victory in his semi.

Thanou, 32, making her international comeback after a two-year suspension for doping violations, was greeted by a small amount of booing from the sell-out crowd at the National Indoor Arena.

The 2000 Olympic 100 metres silver medallist clocked 7.22 seconds to equal her season's best.

Gevaert, double European sprint gold medallist outdoors, won in a world leading time of 7.10 and will be favourite for tomorrow's final.

''I didn't expect to do so well and am amazed by the time,'' the 28-year-old Belgian said.

Susanna Kallur, the European indoor 60 metres hurdles champion, set a personal best of 7.24 in third as did Britain's Jeanette Kwakye, who won the other semi in 7.17.

Thanou and her compatriot Costas Kenteris were suspended until last December after acknowledging they had violated anti-doping rules by missing three drugs tests, the last on the eve of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

''Job done'', was Gardener's verdict after he beat European indoor record holder Ronald Pognon of France by 0.01 seconds in 6.58.

Gardener's training partner, 20-year-old Craig Pickering clocked the same time for victory in his semi.

REUTERS SY BST2147