Former East German Olympic swimmer Carola Beraktschjan said yesterday that she wants to forfeit her medals and have her name removed from the record books because she had swum under the influence of anabolic steroids.

Beraktschjan, who was known by her maiden name of Nitschke while she swam for East Germany, has testified in a case against six former East German sports officials who are accused of causing bodily harm by giving female swimmers banned steroids to improve their performance.

Beraktschjan told reporters outside the courtroom that she did not believe she could have earned the medals or set records without receiving systematic doping by her coaches.

"I don't think my athletic performance alone, without the help of pharmaceuticals, would have allowed me to earn a spot among the world's top swimmers," said Beraktschjan.

Now 36, she set a world record for the 100 metres breaststroke in 1976 and, at the age of 14, finished fourth at the Montreal Olympics. She won a European gold medal in the 4x100 metres medley relay a year later.

Beraktschjan is the first top East German athlete to volunteer to give back her medals due to doping.