USSR: PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): NSA-RDP96X00790R000100020019-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 1, 2011
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: February 13, 1985
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified and Approved For Release 2011/12/01 : NSA-RDP96XO079OR000100020019-6
(C/WN/NF) Chemical substances have been used to improve the
mental and physical functions of Soviet troops# according to the former
chief of the Pharmacology Laboratory, Moscow Institute of Physical
Culture.
(C/WN/NF) The institute, a training facility for Olympic ath-
letes, is one of the leading Soviet research institutes studying
methods to enhance performance. Chemical substances derived from
certain plant materials, cited as the most commonly used by Soviet
military personnel and Olympic athletes, were said to increase
tolerance to high and low temperatures as well as oxygen levels.
Details were revealed on the testing methods used to determine the
effectiveness of each substance, and two key Soviet reference books
were cited that provide the technical details on these substances and
others used in the USSR.
COMM r: (C/WN)INF) According to the US Army Foreign Science and
Technology Center (FSTC), this confirmation of the Soviet military's
use of chemical substances for performance enhancement is of major
importance. It adds credence to other reports of Soviet military
interest in the use of both conventional drugs and novel substances to
improve troop efficiency. Moreover, the two references cited should
provide previously unavailable information on the composition and
active components of performance enhancers, allowing Western analysts
to assess their efficacy. Nonetheless, until more thorough scientific
investigations have determined the effects of these performance
enhancers on mental and physical functions, such Soviet claims remain
important. The fact that Soviet military personnel believe in the
effects of the substances is significant because of the psychological
advantage it could offer in certain physically or mentally stressful
situations. (DECL OADR)
DIADIN 43-1A as of 1205 EST 12 Feb 85
Prepared by: JSI-2A, 695-9635; Gray 960-3139; KY 2544 and FSTC, DA
Page 1
TCS 568206/85
I A TALENT- KEYHOLE-COMINT
U Pi CONTROL SYSTEMS JOINTLY
Declassified and Approved For Release 2011/12/01 : NSA-RDP96XO079OR000100020019-6