How East Germany doped its athletes (264)

Cold War Conversations

Ian Sanders

Society & Culture, Documentary, History

4.8 • 758 Ratings

🗓️ 3 December 2022

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the early 1970s, the athletes of East Germany started to achieve incredible sports results, winning medals and setting new world records with astonishing frequency. For many years, their sporting supremacy was hailed as a triumph of the socialist government's commitment to scientific research and innovative training methods. However, after the Cold War ended, the Stasi archives revealed a sinister secret behind the successes: a perverse doping system imposed by the government itself. Drugs were administered to young athletes, often without their consent, and the price their bodies are now paying is very high, both physically and mentally. I talk with Joseph Tudor, whose new book Synthetic Medals reveals the events that led to the discovery of the state-doping system and the subsequent trial. It also explores the state's motives for this crime against its own people. 0:00 Introduction and Joseph Tudor's perspective on East German doping 2:04 Sponsor: Call to support the Cold War Conversations podcast 4:12 East Germany's adoption of artificial methods to enhance athletes' performance 10:43 Unveiling the East German 'athlete machine' 17:47 The International Olympic Committee's suspicions about East Germany's success 21:44 Prevalence and detection of doping in East German sports 26:05 Resistance and consequences against Stasi's involvement in sports 31:49 Discovery of State Plan 14.25, East Germany's state doping program 34:03 Legal challenges surrounding East Germany's doping program 38:39 The devastating side effects of doping drugs on athletes 45:30 Legacy of East German athletic success and the role of doping 52:37 Athletes returning their medals due to guilt of doping 56:13 Sponsor: Promotion of the book 'Synthetic Medals: East German Athlete's Journey to Hell' 57:05 Closing remarks and promotion of the Cold War Conversations store Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨ Extra episode info here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode264/ Buy the book here https://amzn.to/3gVZbtI and support the podcast. ========================================================== Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community and get a sought after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link. ========================================================== Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
0:05.9	This episode is brought to you by SimpliSafe. With the evenings getting darker earlier,
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0:33.6	Teas and Seas apply. Dorothy Rosler, who was a female doctor, when they asked, but would have you done the same to your
0:42.7	daughter, if your daughter were an athlete? And she said, yeah, probably I would have done it.
0:51.3	This is Cold War Conversations. If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts.
1:01.2	Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app or join our emailing list at coldwarconversations.com.
1:10.5	In the early 1970s, the athletes of East Germany started to achieve incredible sports results,
1:18.3	winning medals and setting new world records with astonishing frequency.
1:22.8	For many years, their sporting supremacy was held as a triumph of the socialist government's commitment
1:28.4	to scientific research and innovative training methods. However, after the Cold War ended,
1:35.0	the Stasi archives revealed a sinister secret behind the successes. A perverse doping system
1:41.6	imposed by the government itself. Drugs were administered to young
1:45.6	athletes often without their consent and the price their bodies are now paying is very high,
1:50.8	both physically and mentally. I talked with Joseph Tudor, the author of a new book called
1:56.9	Synthetic Medals, which reveals the events that led to the discovery of the state
2:01.6	doping system and the subsequent trial. It also explores the state's motives for this crime
2:07.6	against its own people. You can buy the book via the links in the episode notes and help support
2:14.2	the podcast. The Cold War conversation continues in our vibrant Facebook discussion group and on Twitter.
	...

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