Dutch 1984 Olympic discus gold medallist Ria Stalman on Friday admitted to taking anabolic steroids to enhance her performance, 31 years after triumphing at the Los Angeles Games. "During the final two years of my career, I daily used a light dosage of anabolic steroids," Stalman said in an interview with the Dutch NOS public newscaster.
Stalman, 32 at the time, told the Friday night television programme "Andere Tijden Sport" (Earlier Times in Sport) that her decision to take part in doping was sparked after a pre-Olympic visit to the former East Germany. She said she saw signs there that many women were using steroids. "I wanted to beat them badly," said Stalman, now 64. "I then thought: the only way was that if you can't beat them, join them," she said, adding she used doping during heavy bouts of training to help her recover faster.