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At the Seoul Olympics in 1988 Ben Johnson ran the 100 metres in 9.79 seconds making him the fastest human ever. It was a proud moment in Canadian athletic history that quickly turned into a nightmare. Only 62 hours later Olympic officials entered Johnson's room and walked out with his gold medal. Ben Johnson had tested positive for steroid use. The Canadian sports establishment was scandalized. Johnson lost millions in endorsements and sponsorship fees and he was suspended from competition for two years.
Prior to Ben's meteoric rise to the pinnacle of the track and field world, Charlie Francis, his Canadian Olympic track coach told him that a sprinter couldn't hope to go world class without steroids. Johnson, like many of his competitors, began using steroids six years before his stunning victory. The fateful dose was administered by Dr. Jamie Astaphan, his team doctor, during a rest session in St. Kitts just prior to Seoul Games. The doctor allegedly warned Johnson and his coach that Ben could test positive at the Games as a result and asked for $1 million to keep quiet. Ben's coach did nothing and allowed him to compete. Although Ben knew that he used steroids, he trusted his coaches and medical advisor, which proved to be a fatal mistake.
In the early 1990's Ben attempted to climb to the top once again. Unfortunately, in 1993, he tested positive again after a Montreal track event and was banned by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) for life. This time, Ben insisted that he was clean. Records showed that he had been tested three times Jan 15, Jan17 & Jan 21. Only the Jan 17 sample tested positive. Johnson maintained that it was impossible to be clean two days prior and four days later but didn't have the money to dispute the results in court. His brilliant athletic career was finally over.
He continued to train and in 1999 a Canadian arbitrator ruled that Johnson had not received due process in 1993 and would be allowed to compete in Canada. The IAAF, however, upheld the lifetime ban. This meant that although Johnson could now technically run in Canada he couldn't compete. His competitors would be considered 'tainted' and also barred from international competition. In October 1999 he raced against a thoroughbred, a pacer, and a stock car at a charity event in Charlottetown, PEI. Ben placed third after the stock car bogged down in the mud.
Ben was in the headlines again last summer after he accepted a three month job to train Libyian dictator Muammer Gaddafi's son, a soccer player. He also tested positive a third time for a diuretic that can mask steroid use. Johnson claims it was accidental.
Ben Johnson still lives in Toronto. He's never held down a job and lives on an income of a few hundred dollars a week. He trains at York University with his first coach Percy Duncan for races that may never come.
Prior to Ben's meteoric rise to the pinnacle of the track and field world, Charlie Francis, his Canadian Olympic track coach told him that a sprinter couldn't hope to go world class without steroids. Johnson, like many of his competitors, began using steroids six years before his stunning victory. The fateful dose was administered by Dr. Jamie Astaphan, his team doctor, during a rest session in St. Kitts just prior to Seoul Games. The doctor allegedly warned Johnson and his coach that Ben could test positive at the Games as a result and asked for $1 million to keep quiet. Ben's coach did nothing and allowed him to compete. Although Ben knew that he used steroids, he trusted his coaches and medical advisor, which proved to be a fatal mistake.
In the early 1990's Ben attempted to climb to the top once again. Unfortunately, in 1993, he tested positive again after a Montreal track event and was banned by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) for life. This time, Ben insisted that he was clean. Records showed that he had been tested three times Jan 15, Jan17 & Jan 21. Only the Jan 17 sample tested positive. Johnson maintained that it was impossible to be clean two days prior and four days later but didn't have the money to dispute the results in court. His brilliant athletic career was finally over.
He continued to train and in 1999 a Canadian arbitrator ruled that Johnson had not received due process in 1993 and would be allowed to compete in Canada. The IAAF, however, upheld the lifetime ban. This meant that although Johnson could now technically run in Canada he couldn't compete. His competitors would be considered 'tainted' and also barred from international competition. In October 1999 he raced against a thoroughbred, a pacer, and a stock car at a charity event in Charlottetown, PEI. Ben placed third after the stock car bogged down in the mud.
Ben was in the headlines again last summer after he accepted a three month job to train Libyian dictator Muammer Gaddafi's son, a soccer player. He also tested positive a third time for a diuretic that can mask steroid use. Johnson claims it was accidental.
Ben Johnson still lives in Toronto. He's never held down a job and lives on an income of a few hundred dollars a week. He trains at York University with his first coach Percy Duncan for races that may never come.
