East German victims win second compensation

BERLIN, Dec 21 (Reuters) Victims of East Germany's doping programme have won compensation of 9,250 euros (12,200 dollars) each from a former state drugs firm, days after reaching a similar deal with the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB).

Under an accord agreed on Thursday, 184 former athletes who were recognised as doping victims will receive 1.7 million euros (2.24 million dollars) in total.

In a deal reached last week with the DOSB, 167 of the 184 athletes will also get 9,250 euros.

Drugs firm Jenapharm, which was once part of East Germany's state pharmaceuticals industry and produced the steroid involved in the doping cases, will also donate 170,000 euros to a group representing doping victims.

''We want to make a social contribution to help ease the victims' pain,'' Jenapharm Chief Executive Isabel Rothe said in a statement.

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 victims had vowed to take the case to court after talks with the old German Olympic Committee and Jenapharm had failed to bring an agreement in April this year.

Investigations conducted after German reunification in 1990 showed some 600 athletes had been on a list known as the ''supportive measures'' programme.

Reuters AY GC1901