ATHENS, Greece (AP) Bottled water given to a visiting soccer team by an Athens squad was found to have been spiked with a powerful depressant.
Tests were conducted on the water after mystery illnesses struck two other teams at earlier games, revealing the presence of the drug haloperidol.
Olympics organizers quickly ruled out the possibility of such an occurrence at the Aug. 13-29 Athens Games, saying all food and water for athletes would be subject to random inspections for poisons or substances that might enhance performance.
When Akratitos played Kalithea, another Athens team, on March 20, the Kalithea coach was hospitalized for three days after losing consciousness after the game, which ended in a scoreless tie.
After an April 17 game between host Akratitos and Ionikos, at least one player from the visiting team was hospitalized and doctors were unsure what caused him to pass out. Akratitos won that game 3-0.
Greece's Food Inspection Agency said Wednesday it had found that a hypodermic needle was used to inject haloperidol into the water bottle. It said it was turning over test results to a prosecutor so a criminal investigation could be opened.
''We have nothing to fear and want to shed as much light on this case as possible,'' Akratitos said in a statement.
A sealed bottle of water was given to the agency by the visiting Iraklis team after an April 21 game with host Akratitos, which won the game 1-0.
The agency did not say if the amount of depressant was enough to affect an adult. It was also unclear how much of the water was consumed by Iraklis players.
Haloperidol is considered a ''powerful neurological drug given in serious and long-term cases of psychosis,'' the agency said.
Sports Minister Giorgos Orfanos said this episode ''blackened'' the reputation of Greek soccer.
''Everyone can rest assured that justice will be done and those responsible punished,'' he added.
Greece's Association of Professional Soccer Clubs also asked for an investigation and said the accusations surpass the ''limits of the imagination.'' The players' union called the matter ''shameful and disgusting.''
Tests were conducted on the water after mystery illnesses struck two other teams at earlier games, revealing the presence of the drug haloperidol.
Olympics organizers quickly ruled out the possibility of such an occurrence at the Aug. 13-29 Athens Games, saying all food and water for athletes would be subject to random inspections for poisons or substances that might enhance performance.
When Akratitos played Kalithea, another Athens team, on March 20, the Kalithea coach was hospitalized for three days after losing consciousness after the game, which ended in a scoreless tie.
After an April 17 game between host Akratitos and Ionikos, at least one player from the visiting team was hospitalized and doctors were unsure what caused him to pass out. Akratitos won that game 3-0.
Greece's Food Inspection Agency said Wednesday it had found that a hypodermic needle was used to inject haloperidol into the water bottle. It said it was turning over test results to a prosecutor so a criminal investigation could be opened.
''We have nothing to fear and want to shed as much light on this case as possible,'' Akratitos said in a statement.
A sealed bottle of water was given to the agency by the visiting Iraklis team after an April 21 game with host Akratitos, which won the game 1-0.
The agency did not say if the amount of depressant was enough to affect an adult. It was also unclear how much of the water was consumed by Iraklis players.
Haloperidol is considered a ''powerful neurological drug given in serious and long-term cases of psychosis,'' the agency said.
Sports Minister Giorgos Orfanos said this episode ''blackened'' the reputation of Greek soccer.
''Everyone can rest assured that justice will be done and those responsible punished,'' he added.
Greece's Association of Professional Soccer Clubs also asked for an investigation and said the accusations surpass the ''limits of the imagination.'' The players' union called the matter ''shameful and disgusting.''
