The Dark Legacy of Helenio Herrera's Doping Practices at Inter Milan

During the 1960s, Helenio Herrera, the manager of Inter Milan, fostered a culture of doping within the club, utilizing amphetamines to enhance player performance. Players, including youth-team members, were encouraged to take these substances, often referred to as "little white pills." Pierluigi Gambogi, a youth player at the time, described the pills as providing a significant boost, stating, “They were like bombs. They gave you a real kick.” However, the side effects could be severe, as illustrated by the experience of Marcello Giusti, who suffered a dramatic reaction after taking a pill, leading to a chaotic scene in the dressing room.

The Guardian

Despite the introduction of doping controls by the Italian Football Federation for the 1961-62 season, these measures were easily circumvented. Franco Zaglio, an Inter midfielder, noted that players found numerous ways to evade detection, particularly in European competitions where no doping tests were conducted. Techniques included using clean urine from substitutes during tests, as detailed by Carlo Petrini, a former striker, who described a method involving hidden vials of urine during matches.

The Guardian

The doping practices were not limited to Inter Milan; many Serie A clubs engaged in similar activities. Ferruccio Mazzola, a whistleblower and former player, emphasized that it was naive to think Inter was the only team involved in such practices. His 2004 memoir, which exposed Herrera's methods, led to a high-profile libel case against him by Inter Milan, which ultimately ruled in favor of Mazzola. The court found that the club could not disprove the claims made in his book, highlighting the pervasive nature of doping in Italian football during that era.

The Guardian

In response to Mazzola's revelations, Inter Milan's management denied the allegations, labeling them as a "desecration" of the club's legacy. The club's legal action against Mazzola was seen as an attempt to protect its reputation, but the ruling against them raised questions about the integrity of their past successes. Sandro Mazzola, Ferruccio's brother and a former Inter player, initially dismissed the claims but later acknowledged the reality of Herrera's doping practices, revealing that players often had to feign compliance to avoid conflict with the manager.

The Guardian

Critics of Herrera's methods argue that the culture of doping not only compromised the integrity of the sport but also endangered players' health. Many former players have expressed regret over their involvement in these practices, with some, like Sandro Mazzola, reflecting on the pressure to conform to Herrera's demands. The long-term implications of such practices have sparked ongoing discussions about the ethics of performance enhancement in sports.

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While many former players have corroborated Mazzola's accounts, some have downplayed the extent of doping at Inter Milan, suggesting that it was a common practice across various clubs in Italy. This discrepancy highlights the challenges in fully understanding the scope of doping in football during this period.

The Guardian

• “They were like bombs. They gave you a real kick,” — Pierluigi Gambogi, Former Youth Player

The Guardian

• “There were a thousand ways to get away with it,” — Franco Zaglio, Former Midfielder

The Guardian

The legacy of Helenio Herrera's era at Inter Milan serves as a cautionary tale about the lengths to which teams may go to secure victory, raising critical questions about ethics and player welfare in professional sports.

The Guardian