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Article: Tarnished legacy of Olympic gold: A former East German official is on trial this week for doping athletes.(World)
- Article from:
- The Christian Science Monitor
- Article date:
- May 10, 2000
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 The Christian Science Publishing Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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As Germany approaches the 10-year anniversary of unification, another dark chapter from its recent past continues to unfold.
As head of the East German sports federation from 1963 to 1988, Manfred Ewald brought unprecedented distinction to his country in the form of 542 Olympic medals.
On May 9, he went on trial in Berlin, charged with 142 counts of bodily harm.
Prosecutors contend that the small Communist state's Olympic glory days were made possible through a secret steroid program that Mr. Ewald and his codefendant, sports doctor Manfred Hoppner, planned and carried out with scant regard for the well-being of athletes. Both deny the charges. ...