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Document reveals drug use in ’66 World Cup

Comment: 0 October 6th, 2011 by: admin

A recently-discovered document revealed that three players from the West Germany team tested positive for ephedrine, an illegal stimulant, during the 1966 World Cup finals.

The document was a correspondence from FIFA’s medical officer during the time, Mihailo Andrejevic, confirming that the players, who remained unnamed, were confirmed to have had the illegal substance present in their systems.

The letter, discovered by historians at the Humboldt University in Berlin, was addressed to German athletic chief Max Danz.  It was dated November 29, 1966 – seemingly a few months following the final match between Germany and England.

Through the document, Andrejevic was informing Danz of the results of the drug test conducted on the three players, and that the ephedrine found in their bodies was also found in medicine used to treat colds.

There was no information given on whether or not the unnamed players had taken part in the match, which ended with a 4-2 England win.

England’s George Cohen, branded the hero of the game, commented on the discovery.

‘I am astounded,’ he exclaimed.  ‘I always wondered where they got their energy from in extra-time!’

Germany heavily disputed the result, complaining about one of the three goals made by England’s Geoff Hurst.

‘Maybe this news will stop the Germans questioning whether or third goal crossed the line,’ he said.  ‘No wonder they couldn’t see where the ball landed.  They must have been seeing double!’

Cohen further expressed relief for the illegal substances having had no effect on the result, more specifically in Germany winning the match.

‘What would FIFA have done if Germany had won?’ he said.  ‘It’s extraordinary that this has been covered up for so long.’

There were no indications on the unnamed players’ reasons – medicinal or recreational – for taking the illegal substances.

When contacted by reporters for comments on the matter, FIFA officials said that they had been unaware of the letter’s existence, and that further examination would be done on the matter.

In the history of the World Cup, the 1966 finals was when officials carried out the first drug test.

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