Top > Sport > 2007 > January > 2007-01-09

Former East European Athletes Awarded Payment for Systematic Doping

At the height of its sporting glory, the East German athletics teams could proudly compete against its toughest opponents, including the United States and the former USSR. In recent years, however, it has been brought to light that over 10,000 athletes were regularly given drugs to enhance their performance, as part of a systematic doping policy by the former Communist government. For years, these athletes have been seeking compensation and last week an agreement was finally reached.

The German Olympic Committee (DOSB) has finally agreed to put an end to a five year legal dispute between itself and former East European sportsmen and women. The athletes claim that when West Germany merged with the East, it inherited the responsibility of East Germany?s sporting body ? including the moral liability to pay compensation for health problems resulting from the systematic doping. Many of these athletes suffer from psychological problems and women athletes may also suffer from infertility.

The Federal government will pay two thirds of the compensation package, while the DOSB will foot the final one third. According to the deal, each of the 167 athletes will receive 6,200 UK Pounds (approximately 9250 Euros). This is the second wave of compensation claims to reach the DOSB. In recent years, nearly 200 former athletes were paid out a sum of 10,500 Euros each. Under both deals, the athletes waived their intentions to make future claims on government bodies.