The Canadian track star’s biggest moment comes crashing down when he tests positive for a performance-enhancing substance
On September 24, 1988, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson became the first sprinter from Canada since Percy Williams at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics to win the 100m Olympic final, and lowered his own world record to 9.79 seconds. Unfortunately for Johnson, he was disqualified three days later for the use of the drug stanozolol. Because of that turn of events, Carl Lewis was awarded the gold and established his 9.92 finish as the new world record in the event.
The stunning reversal sent shock waves through the sporting world. Johnson had entered the Seoul Games as the reigning world champion and the man who had spent years locked in a highly publicized rivalry with Lewis. His 9.79-second performance had appeared to settle that rivalry once and for all. Instead, his victory lasted only 62 hours before the positive test turned the celebration into one of the most infamous scandals in Olympic history.
Johnson initially denied using performance-enhancing drugs, and his case eventually became the subject of a Canadian federal inquiry. The Dubin Commission, established in 1989, examined not only Johnson’s use of anabolic steroids but also the broader culture of drug use in Canadian sport and the effectiveness of anti-doping programs. Johnson ultimately acknowledged during the inquiry that he had been involved in a steroid program dating back to 1981. The revelations helped fuel sweeping discussions about performance-enhancing drugs and the responsibilities of athletes, coaches and sports organizations.
Johnson served a two-year suspension and was reinstated in 1990, eventually returning to the Olympic stage at Barcelona in 1992. His comeback, however, fell far short of the glory he had experienced in Seoul; he finished last in his 100-meter semifinal after stumbling out of the blocks.
Then, in 1993, Johnson failed another drug test—this time for excessive testosterone. The IAAF imposed a lifetime ban, effectively ending his competitive career and cementing the 1988 Seoul Olympic final as one of the most controversial races in sports history.
