BERLIN (AP) — A report by German researchers claims West Germany’s athletes were systematically doped with government backing from the 1970s, and possibly earlier.
The Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper publicized details from the unpublished 800-page report titled “Doping in Germany from 1950 to today” on Saturday, revealing the extent to which West German politicians were allegedly willing to promote drug use among athletes to ensure international success.
According to the report, one interior minister — who wasn’t identified — said at the time: “Our athletes should have the same conditions and services as the Eastern bloc athletes.”
The report was put together by researchers at Berlin’s Humboldt University on behalf of the German Olympic Sports Confederation, with Giselher Spitzer as the project leader. It was completed in April, but has yet to be published because of privacy concerns and legal issues over naming athletes, doctors and politicians.
