Jiří Kvapil

“Twice, I was prohibited to attend the World Championship because of them. In 1978, I was second at the national championship and it was clear that I should be going to the World Championship. One of the officers took me to do doping tests. But in the meantime, they announced the winners and they told me the reason [for me not going to the World Championship] was that I was not there for the announcement of the winners. If I would not go for the doping tests, they would say it was because of the doping test. They would always come up with something. I was also disappointed by that. Those were two races for which I was best prepared and in which I couldn’t take part. I felt like giving up on it all.”

“In 1980, I took part in the renowned race in Višňovka, Prague. In 1975, I was the first one ever to win the race both on Saturday and on Sunday. In 1980, I was second or third on Saturday and I won on Sunday. And in 1981 – the year my mum died – I arrived in Višňovka and there was some communist officer who said I should go to the jury caravan. There was supposed to be a doctor who would infuse some vitamin directly in my veins. I said that my mum died and that I did not feel well and that I did not need any vitamin infusion right before the competition. And that was probably one of the reasons why I retired from professional sports. Today, everyone can imagine what had been inside.“