1969 European Athletics Championships — 1969 edition of the European Athletics Championships in Athens
The 1969 European Athletics Championships marked the first doping disqualification in athletics and debuted two new women's track events.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 9th European Athletics Championships
- Dates
- 16–21 September 1969
- Venue
- Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus
- First doping disqualification
- Edward de Noorlander, disqualified for amphetamine use
- New events
- Women's 1500m and women's 4×400m relay introduced
- West German protest
- Withdrew from all individual events over IAAF eligibility ruling
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
IAAF rules required defected East German runner Jürgen May to reside in West Germany for three years before competing for his new country. West German officials objected to this ruling, which excluded May from competition despite his earlier participation in the 1966 championships for East Germany.
The ninth European Athletics Championships were held in Piraeus, Greece, from 16 to 21 September 1969. West Germany withdrew from individual events in protest over May's exclusion but competed in relay races as a gesture of respect to Greek organisers. Dutch decathlete Edward de Noorlander was disqualified for amphetamine use.
De Noorlander's disqualification became the first recorded doping disqualification in athletics history, foreshadowing the sport's long struggle with performance-enhancing substances. The championships also expanded women's track athletics by introducing the 1500 metres and 4×400 metres relay while replacing the 80 metres hurdles with the 100 metres hurdles.
Result
at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece