“Questionable Drugs Used By Competitors”
In the early 20th century, swimmers, distance runners, sprinters, and cyclists had begun using special “doping recipes” to gain a competitive edge but no attempt was made to conceal these practices because they weren’t considered cheating; but, doping recipes were closely guarded secrets. From 1974, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) sports federation had a mandatory state doping policy for athletes as young as 10, often without their knowledge. The use of stimulants grew steadily from the 19th to the mid-20th century. In World War II, “soldiers of both the Allies and Axis powers used amphetamines,” says Charles E. Yesalis III, DSc, MPH. Dr Yesalis, professor emeritus of health and human development at Pennsylvania State University and author of Anabolic Steroids in Sport and Exercise, has been a consultant to the US Office of National Drug Control Policy, the US Olympic Committee, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, among others. “Everybody used amphetamines,” he recalls. “My dad was in the 101st Airborne.
