Manfred Hoeppner
Encyclopedia
Dr. Manfred Hoeppner served as the German Democratic Republic
's (GDR) top sports doctor. He and Manfred Ewald
, who served as German Democratic Republic
's (GDR) minister of sport ('61 to '88) and president of his country's Olympic committee ('73-'90), are regarded as the architects of their country's state-sponsored system of using illicit performance-enhancing drugs, which is believed to explain GDR's Olympic success between 1972 through 1988. Hoeppner allegedly had ties to the East German secret police, the Stasi
.
, both Manfred Ewald and Dr. Hoeppner were convicted as accessories to intentional bodily harm of athletes, including minors. Both received probation. During the trial Dr. Hoeppner testified that they had approval from the highest level of the government of the GDR. However, unlike his colleague, Dr. Hoeppner expressed remorse in his role and was quoted as saying to the court "I beg those athletes who suffered ill-health to accept my apologies."
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
's (GDR) top sports doctor. He and Manfred Ewald
Manfred Ewald
Manfred Ewald served as German Democratic Republic's minister of sport and president of his country's Olympic committee...
, who served as German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
's (GDR) minister of sport ('61 to '88) and president of his country's Olympic committee ('73-'90), are regarded as the architects of their country's state-sponsored system of using illicit performance-enhancing drugs, which is believed to explain GDR's Olympic success between 1972 through 1988. Hoeppner allegedly had ties to the East German secret police, the Stasi
Stasi
The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security (German: Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS), commonly known as the Stasi (abbreviation , literally State Security), was the official state security service of East Germany. The MfS was headquartered...
.
Doping Scandal
On July 18, 2000, in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, both Manfred Ewald and Dr. Hoeppner were convicted as accessories to intentional bodily harm of athletes, including minors. Both received probation. During the trial Dr. Hoeppner testified that they had approval from the highest level of the government of the GDR. However, unlike his colleague, Dr. Hoeppner expressed remorse in his role and was quoted as saying to the court "I beg those athletes who suffered ill-health to accept my apologies."
External links
- Britannica Online Encyclopedia http://original.britannica.com/eb/article-9391038/Ewald-Manfred#758648.hook