Doping and sports - 1945-1949

1945

From 1945 there were indications in Soviet documents that there were official discussions about the viability of doping in sport. The document reflected an important set of opinions, both pro and against. The conclusion was that stimulants were used in sports, that the trainers and coaches were involved, that more research was needed to assess the effects and that the reactions to these drugs did not justify the risk at that time. The latter was discussed again when the Soviet Union set itself the goal in 1948 to improve all world records. In any case, it is a fact that from 1954 onwards, the Soviets systematically administered their weight-lifters testosterone and its use was then distributed among other sports. Although the Soviet program was probably never as well organized and systematized as that of the German Democratic Republic, it was established that officials, team doctors and pharmacologists made drugs available to coaches who had to produce winners under enormous pressure from the party. Pre-competition tests were done to ensure that athletes could escape both detection and death.

1945

Li et al. Isolate a growth-enhancing agent from a bovine pituitary, which they call growth hormone.

1945

French cyclist André Pousse (1919-2005), who later also became a celebrated actor, confessed in 1945 the use of stimulants and digitalis, which he mainly used in small quantities during the six day events.

"I was in favor, because I'm a hyper-nervous type that does not need much sleep. These drugs are a precious gift for the Six Days. Sometimes I used cocaine ointment, which was rubbed into my bib shorts and so penetrated the skin. thenmore cheerful, the time seemed less long, the old balustrades and the stands became less monotonous. When you had to hunt, you quickly took a digitalis or trinitrin, but without exaggerating "

1946

British football player Stanley Matthews (1915-2000) was unable to take part in the game against Sheffield United due to a flu attack. His manager let him prescribe a medicine that he could make the ninety minutes anyway. He received a 'pep pil' which Matthews later described as 'illegal'. He played the game, but the night after he was so hyperactive that he did not fall asleep and only cleaned his house, started training and did an endurance run. Everything indicated that he had been prescribed amphetamines.

1946

Considering that a large number of veterans from the Second World War started to study at the University after their military service, it is highly probable that amphetamine use was introduced early in University football. All-American George Connor (1925-2003) confessed that he, as Notre Dame player, took stimulants.

1947

S. Werner describes cholestatic jaundice as a side effect of liver function in the administration of testosterone derivatives. Afterwards, many scientists have demonstrated the negative effects of anabolic androgenic steroids on the liver.

1948

During the eleventh stage of the 1948 Tour de France, Louison Bobet (1925-1983) had a lot of trouble with a furuncle at the foot, which was caused by a 'performance-enhancing' drug. It is generally known that he used and therefore he was not considered as a deserved tour winner. At that time stimulants were not forbidden, but they were only discouraged. In 1967 Bobet orated in the French newspaper 'Miroir du Cyclisme':

"I am for the anti-doping law ... No, we were not angels, but now the limits are far exceeded ..."

1949

The amphetamines claimed their first victims, during a race the Italian cyclist Fabio Aldese died.

1949

The Italian cyclist Alfredo Falzini died during the Milano-Rapallo race. The post-autopsy showed that he had taken simpamine and steanine.

1949

German physician Heinz-Adolf Heper (1920-) played football from 1948 to 1951 at 1. SC Göttingen 05 in the German Bündesliga. He obtained his doctor's degree with the treatise 'Leistungssteigerung durch chemical Hilfsmittel im Sport', in which he described his own experience with the pervitin known in wartime, which he described as 'typical doping substance from that time'. He took it himself, but also gave his teammates a dose of ten milligrams, of which he mentioned 'an increased will to win' as positive effects and a 'quicker comprehension'. But he also noted 'unpleasant side effects', such as lack of air and increased ventilation. All in all, he diagnosed a 'major threat to the sportsman'. He asked Heper if he had informed his teammates about this beforehand. He later became a football coach and specialized in sports medicine.

1949

In a TV interview Italian cyclist Fausto Coppi (1919-1960) admitted the use of 'la Bomba', because there was no alternative if you wanted to stay competitive. With 'la Bomba' he referred to the amphetamines, which were developed during the Second World War to keep the crew of military aircraft, ships and submarines awake, alert and energetic. After the war, a ready-made market for that product was found among endurance athletes. Coppi also said:

"One day I take the wrong pill and I cycled backwards."

He also joked for the camera that he only took the drugs if that was absolutely necessary. But that was almost always the case.