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Doped GDR athletes awarded payout | Doped GDR athletes awarded payout |
(about 19 hours later) | |
Germany's Olympic Committee has agreed to compensate former athletes who were victims of systematic doping in East Germany under the communist rule. | Germany's Olympic Committee has agreed to compensate former athletes who were victims of systematic doping in East Germany under the communist rule. |
The committee (DOSB) said 167 sportsmen and women would each receive a one-off payment of 9,250 euros (£6,200). | The committee (DOSB) said 167 sportsmen and women would each receive a one-off payment of 9,250 euros (£6,200). |
The deal ends a five-year legal dispute between the athletes, many of whom were made ill by the drugs, and the DOSB. | The deal ends a five-year legal dispute between the athletes, many of whom were made ill by the drugs, and the DOSB. |
The athletes argued that the DOSB of unified Germany inherited the liability of East Germany's sports body. | The athletes argued that the DOSB of unified Germany inherited the liability of East Germany's sports body. |
'Moral responsibility' | 'Moral responsibility' |
They said they had been given drugs without their knowledge from an early age. | They said they had been given drugs without their knowledge from an early age. |
Many said they had suffered psychological problems as a result. Some female athletes said they had become infertile. | Many said they had suffered psychological problems as a result. Some female athletes said they had become infertile. |
DOSB head Michael Vespers said his committee had a "moral responsibility" to compensate the victims of state-sponsored doping regimes. | DOSB head Michael Vespers said his committee had a "moral responsibility" to compensate the victims of state-sponsored doping regimes. |
"This is a day of celebration. We can now look to the future and stop looking back over years of arguments," Mr Vespers said. | "This is a day of celebration. We can now look to the future and stop looking back over years of arguments," Mr Vespers said. |
The DOSB will pay a third of the compensation package - the remainder will be given by the federal government. | The DOSB will pay a third of the compensation package - the remainder will be given by the federal government. |
The former athletes have agreed not to seek any other legal action. | The former athletes have agreed not to seek any other legal action. |
It is the second time that damages have been paid to former East German athletes - 194 received compensation of 10,400 euros (£6,900) each. | |
Some 10,000 athletes are thought to have been given performance-enhancing drugs to help East Germany compete with the major sporting powers like the US and the former USSR. | Some 10,000 athletes are thought to have been given performance-enhancing drugs to help East Germany compete with the major sporting powers like the US and the former USSR. |
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