FRANKFURT, Germany (AP)  A researcher says some players on the West Germany team that won the 1954 World Cup may have been injected with the same stimulant given to tank crews and Luftwaffe pilots during World War II. Rumors of doping involving the West German team have been around for years. Some players have acknowledged receiving injections at the World Cup in Switzerland but believed they were given vitamin C. But a member of the team conducting a new study by the University of Leipzig into the history of doping in Germany says they could have received methamphetamine, which under its trade name Pervitin had been used by Nazi Germany's troops. "There are indications that they were injected with Pervitin instead of vitamin C," Erik Eggers, one of the authors of the study was quoted as saying by the newspaper Tageszeitung on Tuesday. Dorothee Alfermann of the University of Leipzig said the study itself had not covered the subject of the 1954 World Cup team until now, but that Eggert had presented his theory in an earlier publication and had briefly touched on the subject during Monday's presentation of the broader doping study. West Germany rallied to beat favorite Hungary <emdash /> led by Ferenc Puskas <emdash /> 3-2 in Bern and won its first World Cup title in its first post-World War II appearance. The study on the history of doping in Germany was commissioned and funded by the German Olympic committee. It will be completed in 2012. The first part of its findings were made public this week and disclosed that doping in some sports already took place as early as 1949. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more