Career
Without her knowledge, Kersten was part of the East German doping program In 1985 she suffered a serious spine injury and had to stop training. As part of her recovery treatment she was prescribed Oral Turinabol, an anabolic steroid.
Her physician, Doctor Bernd Pansold, was later convicted in 1998 for the procurement of drugs to minors.
Before the 1988 Olympics she was administered other performance-enhancing drugs under disguise of nutrition supplements. After German reunification, Kersten moved to Stuttgart and worked at the Swabian Gymnastics Federation.
Until 2002 she coached the German junior team She also holds second dan in taekwondo and teaches martial arts
Her son Erik is a taekwondo practitioner.