Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

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# 92000E1966

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-1966/00 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. The scandal of doping in the former GDR.** 
  
*Official Journal 081 E , 13/03/2001 P. 0120 - 0121*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1966/00

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: The scandal of doping in the former GDR

Mr Manfred Ewald and Mr Manfred Hoeppner have been tried in Germany on charges of promoting the systematic doping of GDR athletes when they were Chairmen of the Sports Federation of the former GDR and assistant of the Medical Sports Service respectively. They are charged with complicity in physical damage caused to 142 women athletes, and with setting up a system to mass produce champions.

This is not the first court case on this subject; individuals have already been sentenced in the past.

The Commission has made combating doping a priority in the field of sport.

The cases referred to are simply horrific, and provide shocking evidence of the ruthless manipulation of sport in the former GDR, against all principles of health and fundamental humanity. Such cases should therefore not be allowed to fall into oblivion. They constitute grim lessons for the future, since the only use they have is to prevent such things happening again.

Has the Commission followed all the court cases concerned? On the basis of the horrific experiments carried out in the former GDR, does it intend to promote research, information and training activities which will form part of a thoroughgoing anti-doping policy and help to combat any similar instances today or tomorrow, and provide lasting protection against such excesses and extreme abuse for future generations of sportsmen and sportswomen?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(19 September 2000)

The Commission has followed with interest the court cases concerning the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) and doping.

The Commission shares the view that such practices should be strongly condemned. It is vital that the results of the political motivation, that was apparent in the former GDR, do not reappear in today's environment through other means such as over-commercialisation.

The President of the Commission referred to the fight against doping on 21 July 1999 in his first speech to the Parliament. The Commission's stance can be found in its communication on a Community support plan to combat doping in sport(1) which was issued on 1 December 1999.

The support plan contains a wide range of possible Community actions that can be carried out through a number of different policy areas ranging from public health to justice and home affairs. Research is included as one of the main areas that should be focused upon.

The Commission also intends to support a number of pilot actions in the field of education and information.

Through this structured package the Commission aims to reinforce the action taken by sports organisations, which must assume the leadership, in fighting against this scourge that seriously tarnishes the image of sport.

(1) COM(1999) 643 final.

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