Three Germans on drugs in '66 final
Big match ... the West German and England teams at 1966 Wembley final
ENGLAND's 1966 World Cup winners were reeling last night after it emerged that three of the West German team they beat in the final failed a drugs test.
A newly-discovered letter from FIFA's then medical chief confirms the unnamed players tested positive for banned stimulant ephedrine.
The sensational results remained a secret for 45 years until the letter was found by historians at Berlin's Humboldt University.
Last night 1966 hero George Cohen said: "I am astounded... I always wondered where they got their energy from in extra-time!"
1966 hero ... George Cohen
England, led by Bobby Moore, won the final at Wembley 4-2 but the Germans disputed one of hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst's goals.
Defender George laughed: "Maybe this news will stop the Germans questioning whether our third goal crossed the line.
"No wonder they couldn't see where the ball had landed.
They must have been seeing double!
"Thank goodness the result was not affected by whatever it was the Germans were taking.
What would FIFA have done if Germany had won? It's extraordinary that this has been covered up for so long."
The 1966 finals were the first World Cup where drug testing was carried out.
George said he believed his team-mate Jack Charlton "might have been called to provide a sample after the final but I'm not sure".
Top of the world ... Bobby Moore lifts trophy
None of the German players was banned over the tests.
The letter, dated November 29, 1966, was sent to the president of the West German Athletics Federation Max Danz by FIFA's medical committee chairman Mihailo Andrejevic.
He said the ephedrine traces could have been contained in a cold remedy.
The stimulant was on a list of banned substances.
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Now this crosses the line! | The Sun |News
Big match ... the West German and England teams at 1966 Wembley finalENGLAND's 1966 World Cup winners were reeling last night after it emerged that three of the West German team they beat in the final failed a drugs test.
A newly-discovered letter from FIFA's then medical chief confirms the unnamed players tested positive for banned stimulant ephedrine.
The sensational results remained a secret for 45 years until the letter was found by historians at Berlin's Humboldt University.
Last night 1966 hero George Cohen said: "I am astounded... I always wondered where they got their energy from in extra-time!"
1966 hero ... George CohenEngland, led by Bobby Moore, won the final at Wembley 4-2 but the Germans disputed one of hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst's goals.
Defender George laughed: "Maybe this news will stop the Germans questioning whether our third goal crossed the line.
"No wonder they couldn't see where the ball had landed.
They must have been seeing double!
"Thank goodness the result was not affected by whatever it was the Germans were taking.
What would FIFA have done if Germany had won? It's extraordinary that this has been covered up for so long."
The 1966 finals were the first World Cup where drug testing was carried out.
George said he believed his team-mate Jack Charlton "might have been called to provide a sample after the final but I'm not sure".
Top of the world ... Bobby Moore lifts trophyNone of the German players was banned over the tests.
The letter, dated November 29, 1966, was sent to the president of the West German Athletics Federation Max Danz by FIFA's medical committee chairman Mihailo Andrejevic.
He said the ephedrine traces could have been contained in a cold remedy.
The stimulant was on a list of banned substances.
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Now this crosses the line! | The Sun |News
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they was high as kites
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