Thanou was suspended for two years in 2004

Controversial Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou has been awarded Marion Jones' 100m silver medal from the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton.

The IAAF annulled all the medals Jones had won since September 2000 after she admitted using the banned steroid THG.

Athletics' governing body was reluctant to award the silver to Thanou, who was suspended after missing three drugs tests on the eve of the 2004 Olympics.

Yet IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said: "Legally, we had no other choice."

He added: "There was no evidence of Thanou committing any doping offence during the period in question, which leaves us with no alternative but to award the medal to her."

The International Olympic Committee is yet to decide how to reallocate Jones' five medals from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

However, the organisation has indicated it will follow the lead of the IAAF in making its decision.

Jones was imprisoned after lying to US investigators

This would seem to suggest that Thanou, who finished second behind Jones in the 100m in Sydney, will now be awarded the gold.

Thanou's lawyer, Gregory Ioannidis, welcomed the IAAF's decision.

He told BBC Sport: "This is indeed good news. It is

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