German football authorities have dismissed a doping study report that three players on West Germany's 1966 World Cup team broke doping rules.
The report of alleged doping breaches emerged in a university study on doping in sport in Germany from 1950 to the present.
Fine traces of an ephedrine-based medicine were found on samples taken from three West Germany players, according to the report.
Doping tests were introduced for the first time at the 1966 tournament, although were no reports of positive tests. Ephedrine, which is used as a decongestant against cold symptoms, was on the banned list as a stimulant.
German football federation DFB media director Ralk Koettker said law professor Martin Nolte from the German Sport University in Cologne had investigated the issue "and come to the clear conclusion that no doping offence took place at the 1966 World Cup".
The West Germany team, coached by Helmut Schoen and containing such notables as Franz Beckenbauer and Uwe Seeler, lost the July 30 final 4-2 after extra-time in a match at Wembley famous for England's controversial third goal scored by Geoff Hurst.
The doping study, which says athletes in West Germany were doped with government funding, was carried out at Berlin's Humboldt University and the Westfaelische Wilhelms University in Muenster.
