Johnson, Benjamin S., Jr.
Track and Field
b. Dec. 30, 1961, Falmouth, Jamaica
Running for Canada, Johnson set a world record of 9.83 seconds in the 100-meter dash at the 1987 world championships and apparently won a gold medal in the event at the 1988 Olympics in another record time of 9.79 seconds. However, he tested positive for steroid use and the gold medal was awarded to Carl Lewis of the U. S., who had finished second.
After Johnson admitted that he'd begun using steroids as early as 1981, his 1987 world record was also revoked and he was suspended for life. The suspension was lifted in January of 1991, after he had evidently been drug-free for 2½ years, but he performed poorly. He tested positive for steroid use after a Montreal meet in January of 1993 and received another life suspension.
Johnson had tied the world record of 10.00 in the 1985 World Cup meet, and he won the 100-meter at the 1986 Commonwealth Games meet with a meet record of 10.07. He was named male athlete of the year by the Associated Press in 1987.