East German dope athletes body asks for US$6.9 million
( 2001-10-18 09:31 ) (7 )

The head of a pressure group seeking compensation for former athletes forced into East Germany's systematic doping programs called for a grant worth millions of dollars here Wednesday.

Klaus Zollig told a German parliamentary hearing that up to 7.7 million euros (US$6.9 million) should be released to all athletes affected by doping.

He said so far 240 former East German athletes had revealed themselves as victims of state-sponsored doping policies.

All parties in the Bundestag agreed in principle in May to the setting up of a fund to help doped athletes, but opinions differ on how compensation should be allocated.

Former East German shot-putter Birgit Bose, 39, told the hearing she believed affected athletes should be given a pension. "Because of the long-term effects of the drugs, we need a pension," she said.

The German sports federation DSB, which described setting up a compensation fund as 'appropriate' in a written response to the hearing, said the government should provide money.

"The state should set up the fund because it was the state, in the shape of the former East Germany, who doped the athletes," he said.