1969 European Athletics Championships

9th European Athletics Championships
Dates16–21 September
Host cityPiraeus, Greece
VenueGeorgios Karaiskakis Stadium
LevelSenior
TypeOutdoor
Events38
Participation674 athletes from
30 nations

The 1969 European Athletics Championships were the ninth European Athletics Championships which were held from 16–21 September 1969 at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece. New at these championships were the women's 1500 metres and the women's 4×400 metres relay event. Moreover, women's 80 metres hurdles was replaced by women's 100 metres hurdles. Contemporaneous reports on the event were given in the Glasgow Herald.[clarification needed][1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Former East German runner Jürgen May, who had defected, was not allowed to compete for his new country, West Germany, due to IAAF rules requiring him to live there for at least three years; he had competed for East Germany in the 1966 championships.[2] West German officials promptly withdrew their athletes from all individual events in protest, but decided to compete in the relay races as a symbolic gesture to show their respect for the Greek organisers.[3]

The Dutch decathlete Edward de Noorlander was disqualified for the use of amphetamine, the first disqualification for doping in athletics.[8][9]

  1. ^ Marshall, Ron (September 15, 1969), British have talent and determination to win 12 medals, Glasgow Herald, p. 5, retrieved September 5, 2014
  2. ^ a b Athletics - May struck out of West German team, Glasgow Herald, September 16, 1969, p. 25, retrieved September 5, 2014
  3. ^ a b Nihill gives Britain her first gold medal, Glasgow Herald, September 17, 1969, p. 7, retrieved September 5, 2014
  4. ^ Anita Neil gives Britain unexpected bronze medal, Glasgow Herald, September 18, 1969, p. 6, retrieved September 5, 2014
  5. ^ Majestic run by Miss Board in 800 metres final, Glasgow Herald, September 19, 1969, p. 6, retrieved September 5, 2014
  6. ^ Steward dictates tactics in searing 5000 victory, Glasgow Herald, September 20, 1969, p. 4, retrieved September 5, 2014
  7. ^ Hill's thrilling marathon win gives Britain sixth gold medal, Glasgow Herald, September 22, 1969, retrieved September 5, 2014
  8. ^ Cashmore, Ellis; Cashmore, Ernest (2002), Sports Culture: An A-Z Guide, Taylor & Francis, 2003, p. 92, ISBN 978-0-415-28555-1, retrieved 6 September 2014
  9. ^ Sport & Santé - Dopage - Les amphétamines : exemples (in French), archived from the original on 17 September 2018, retrieved 6 September 2014