Even by the capricious standards of modern day sport, Costas Kenteris' fall from grace has been spectacular.
Thursday's announcement of a criminal prosecution against the former Olympic champion for obstructing a doping test before the 2004 Athens Games has the plot of a classical Greek tragedy.
Here was a journeyman runner who stunned international athletics by racing gloriously to the 200 metres gold in Sydney four years ago.
Just as suddenly, he returned to the shadows, rarely racing on the grand prix circuit and eschewing publicity.
Inevitably in a sport dogged for years by drugs cheats, rumour circulated that Kenteris had achieved his Australian triumph and subsequent world championship gold by foul means.
He stressed his victories were 'clean' and in Greece, he remained untouchable - they even named a ferry in his honour - until the bizarre eve-of-Games night of August 12.