Johnson exits disgraced

Press, 28 September 1988, Page 1

Johnson exits disgraced

NZPA Seoul As the disgraced Canadian sprinter, Ben Johnson, flew out of Seoul’s Kimpo International Airport for New York yesterday, his American rival, Carl Lewis, was at a gospel church service. Soon after emerging from the service Lewis said he felt sorry for Johnson, banned from the Olympics and stripped of his gold medal after failing a drug test, and for the Canadian people. “Ben is a great competitor and I hope he is able to straighten out his life and return to competition.

“I do not think it would be appropriate for me to fnel this controversy by commenting further,” said Lewis, who is expected to be awarded the 100 m gold medal. Johnson’s loss of the gold medal means Lewis is in line for a successful defence of the four Olympic titles he won at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. He has already won the long jump and, after Johnson’s failed drug test, the 100 m.

Lewis is due to run in the 200 m today and is expected to be in the sprint relay final on Saturday if the United States squad qualifies.

Tests on Johnson after his

100 m victory on Saturday revealed he used the outlawed muscle-building drug stanozolol, regarded as being one of the most dangerous of anabolic steroids. He had not been tested for the last seven months. ■>*' Soon after an International Olympic Committee spokeswoman, Michele Verdier, announced the details of the failed test, Johnson headed for Kimpo Airport. There he was surrounded by heavy security as he boarded a flight to New York. Juan Antonio Samaranch described the saga as a “blow to the Olympic Games.” In denying that he used banned performance boosters, Johnson and his handlers have given varying accounts of how the outlawed drug could have slipped into his system. Johnson has said he suspected a bottle of his favourite herbal drink was spiked last Saturday. But later, Johnson’s manager, Larry Heidebrecht, said Johnson had been given a mysterious drink supplied by a stranger. When Johnson drank it a bad-smelling, yellow, gooey residue was left in the bottom of the bottle. “It was hot. He was thirsty

... and he is a very trusting man,” Mr Heidebrecht said. Dr William Stanish, chief medical officer of the Canadian Olympic team, said he had urged the 1.0. C. to test the remaining contents of Johnson’s water bottle. Prince Alexandre de Merode, of Belgium', head of the 1.0. C. medical commission, has dismissed claims of tampering. New Zealand’s team manager, Bruce Ullrich, described the failed drug test as a very sad day for the Olympic movement. Mr Ullrich said there would be no place in the Olympic village for any New Zealand

athlete found using banned substances. The New Zealand team doctor, David Gerrard, said he was surprised Johnson had failed the drug test. It was common knowledge sports men and women using anabolic steroids could probably stop within a month of competition and still be able to retain 80 per cent of body building substances. “So I’m surprised somebody like Ben Johnson... has allowed this to happen,” Dr Gerrard said. Seven athletes have failed drug tests at the Olympics, including two Bulgarian weightlifters Meanwhile, in Canada Johnson is expected to be barred for life from receiving Government financial support. He has also been suspended for two years by the Canadian Track and Field Association. Johnson, who still retains the world record for the 100 m with his time of 9.83 s at the world championships in Rome last year, is automatically banned from all competition organised by the International Amateur Athletic Federation.

Drug testing, page 32