Germany: Drug Athletes
10 minutes, 2000
Ref: 44

With the Olympic Games starting in Sydney in September, illegal drug taking by athletes is back in the headlines. The most controversial period for drug taking was during the heyday of East Germany's women athletes who conquered all before them. The illegal drugs gave the women more muscle power in the short term, but terrible side effects followed, including a lower voice, facial growth, male body structure, ovarian cancers, and liver damage. Many athletes were given these drugs without their knowledge. We visit some of these former gold medallists and see what the situation is today in Germany.