Berlin - German discus medal hope Robert Harting caused a major stir on Tuesday when he issued a below-the belt attack on the victims of East Germany's state-sponsored doping system.

"When the discus hits the ground it should jump right against one of those glasses which the doping victims are distributing here. I am not a killer but I don't want them to see them anything anymore," Harting said after qualifying for Wednesday's final at the worlds.

The remark was directed at an action of the doping victims who are giving away 20,000 pairs of glasses in a symbolic act at the Olympic Stadium not to turn a blind eye to doping.

Harting already caused a stir last week when he suggested that some doping substances should be allowed, a statement he later retracted. He also lashed out at the German athletics federation leadership on the weekend.

Harting is apparently frustrated that the future of his coach Werner Goldmann is yet to be decided. Goldmann is under suspicion to have been involved in the East's system, with a court case pending.

German athletics supremo Clemens Prokop named Harting's statements from Tuesday "outrageous" while doping victim Ines Gneipel said they showed Harting's true character.

"These statements are great advertising for our cause. Harting makes it very clear what is happening with him and in his sport," said Gneipel. (dpa)