Fani Chalkia

Fani Chalkia (Greek: Φανή Χαλκιά, [faˈni xalˈca], born 2 February 1979), also transliterated as Halkia or Khalkia, is a retired Greek hurdler.^[1][2]

Fani Chalkia

Personal information
Native name	Φανή Χαλκιά
Born	(1979-02-02) 2 February 1979 (age 45) Larissa, Greece
Sport
Country	Greece
Sport	Athletics
Event	400 metres hurdles
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking	1st
Personal best	52.77 sec
Medal record Olympic Games 2004 Athens 400 m hurdles European Championships 2006 Gothenburg 400 m hurdles

Chalkia was born in Larissa, and represented Olympiacos. She won the gold medal in the women's 400m hurdles at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. During the semifinals Chalkia set an Olympic record of 52.77 seconds.

On 16 August 2008, during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing it was announced that she tested positive for the banned substance methyltrienolone.^[3][4] Chalkia denied she had taken any banned substance, and asked for her 'B' sample to be tested, which also tested positive the next day.^[5] On 26 November 2008, the Greek Athletics Federation announced that she would serve a two year ban from the sport effective from August when Chalkia was expelled from the 2008 Summer Olympics.^[6]

In 2015, a Greek court convicted Chalkia of intentional doping and handed her a seven month jail sentence, suspended pending an appeal; this appeal was successful as on 19 February 2016, Chalkia was unanimously acquitted by the Athens Court of Appeal of all charges for the intentional use of banned substances.^[7] The court ruled that the former champion had fallen victim to a circuit of adulterated drugs, and also acquitted her trainer Giorgos Panagiotopoulos, who was facing charges of intentionally supplying banned substances.^[8]

Personal bests

Date	Event	Venue	Performance
22 August 2004	400 meters hurdles	Athens, Greece	52.77 s (OR)
12 September 2004	400 meters	Berlin, Germany	50.56 s (NR)
6 March 2004	400 meters (indoor)	Budapest, Hungary	51.68 s (NR)
24 June 2007	200 meters	Munich, Germany	23.30 s [9]

Honours

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  Greece
1998	World Junior Championships	Annecy, France	27th (h)	400m hurdles	62.50
2004	World Indoor Championships	Budapest, Hungary	6th	400 m	52.90
			6th	4 × 400 m relay	3:39.23
	Olympic Games	Athens, Greece	1st	400 m hurdles	52.82
			7th	4 × 400 m relay	3:45.70
	World Athletics Final	Monte Carlo, Monaco	4th	400 m hurdles	55.10
2006	European Championships	Gothenburg, Sweden	2nd	400 m hurdles	54.02
	World Cup	Athens, Greece	5th	400 m	50.94 (SB)
2007	World Championships	Osaka, Japan	22nd (h)	400 m hurdles	56.58

References

1. "Faní Halkia". IAAF.org. International Association of Athletics Federations. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Fani Khalkia". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
3. "Greece's Halkia fails test: officials". Reuters. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
4. "Greek champion fails drugs test". BBC News. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
5. "IOC DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION DECISION REGARDING Ms FANI CHALKIA" (PDF). Olympic.org. International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2008.
6. "Athletics-Halkia banned for two years for steroid use". Reuters. 27 November 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
7. "Greek court clears hurdler Halkia of intentional doping". Sports Illustrated. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
8. "ΑΠΟΚΛΕΙΣΤΙΚΟ: Αθώα η Φανή Χαλκιά!". Contra.gr. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
9. "Greek all-time list, women". Athletixorg. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.

External links

• Fani Chalkia at World Athletics
• Fani Chalkia at Olympedia
• Fani Chalkia at Olympics.com
• Fani Chalkia at the Hellenic Olympic Committee

Sporting positions
Preceded by Yuliya Pechonkina	Women's 400 m Hurdles Best Year Performance 2004	Succeeded by Yuliya Pechonkina