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BERLIN - Athletes who were victims of the former East Germany's doping programme will receive 9250 euros ($18,024) each in compensation under a deal agreed today with the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB).
The deal means 167 recognised victims of the programme will benefit at a total cost of over 1.5 million euros.
Many victims said they unwittingly received drugs when they were children. Some complained of suffering from heart deformities, liver failure and cancer, as well as voice changes and other health problems.
The German government is contributing to the financial settlement, which brings the case to a conclusion following the threat of legal action.
"Above all, the important thing is the recognition that these people were victims," Michael Lehner, one of the representatives of the former athletes, said in a statement released by the DOSB.
"Money alone can only help them so much."
The victims had vowed to take the case to court after talks with the old German Olympic Committee and the drugs firm Jenapharm had failed to bring an agreement in April this year.
Jenapharm used to be part of the state-run East German pharmaceuticals industry and produced the steroid at the heart of the doping cases.
Investigations conducted after German reunification in 1990 showed some 600 athletes had been on a list known as the "supportive measures" programme.
- REUTERS
