Lawyer accuses doctor
NZPA-Reuter Toronto Ben Johnson’s lawyer accused Dr George (Jamie) Astaphan of "playing Russian roulette” with the sprinter’s health in an angry confrontation at the Government inquiry into drug use in amateur sport. In cross-examining Astaphan, who has- admitted supplying steroids to Johnson, Mr Ed Futerman said yesterday a test done on the runner in
March — five months after a failed Seoul dope test cost him Olympic gold — showed abnormal liver function. Liver damage, and possibly even liver cancer, is considered one of the potential side effects of steroid use. “I would suggest that you were playing Russian roulette with Ben’s liver ... and that, indeed, he is perhaps fortunate that he tested positive in Seoul ... to ensure that
people like you would be exposed for what you stand for,” Mr Futerman said. Mr Justice Charles Dubin, the inquiry’s usually mildmannered commissioner, bristled at Futerman’s statement and said it was inappropriate for the lawyer to make such remarks during Questioning.
questioning. Further report page 39
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Press, 1 June 1989, Page 44
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166Lawyer accuses doctor Press, 1 June 1989, Page 44
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