ATHENS, Greece — Former Greek Olympic hurdles champion Fani Halkia was charged with steroid use, an offense that carries a penalty of two years in jail.

Halkia's coach, George Panagiotopoulos, was also charged Friday by a Greek prosecutor with administering banned substances and faces up to three years in prison and a fine of $26,070 if convicted.

Halkia, the 2004 Athens Olympic 400-meter hurdles champion, was expelled from the Beijing Games this year after testing positive for the steroid methyltrienolone.

Authorities said Greek sprinters Tassos Gousis and Dimitris Regas were also charged with using banned substances.

All four deny any wrongdoing.