Ghosts return to haunt GDR coaches

BERLIN: Five leading German athletics coaches, who were formerly part of the East German system, have admitted their past involvement in doping, German sports officials said on Monday.

Long jump coach Rainer Pottel, discus coach Gerhard Boetcher, javelin coach Maria Ritschel, shot put coach Klaus Schneider and heptathlon coach Klaus Baarck have signed a German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) declaration admitting to past doping offences.

The DOSB said it was the first time coaches still active in the German Athletics Federation (DLV) had accepted past doping offences, shown remorse and offered their victims an apology.