Udo Beyer admits to doping in Montreal

Published on 15/02/2013 01:35

Former Olympic shot put champion Udo Beyer has, for the first time, admitted doping, saying in a documentary that it was his personal decision and that he won the gold medal in 1976 in Montreal because he was 
“the best” and not because he doped.

Beyer competed for East 
Germany, which had a systematic doping programme for its top athletes, many of whom have said they were not aware they were being given performance-enhancing substances.

Speaking in the film “The Lone Wolf” shown at the Berlin Film Festival this week, Beyer, 57, said he knew what was happening. “I knew everything that was done with me. Things I did were my own decision. And there were no secret things in the tea.”

Asked if his victory in 
Montreal had been unjust, Beyer replied: “No, not at all. I was the right Olympic champion 
because I was the best in the competition.”

Beyer said doping accounted for only “two or three per cent” of an athlete’s performance. “Everything else is hard work. And, if you are not properly trained, you can swallow as many pills as you want, you will never be a top athlete,” he said.