Big Ben
In the mid 1970’s a skinny 15 year old boy immigrated to Toronto, Canada with his mother. They came from the Caribbean island of Jamaica. They didn’t have much, but they had each other.
This boy, named Ben Johnson, quickly found out the sad reality of being one of the only black kids in his school. Teased for his skin colour and stutter, he decided to stand up to one of the bullies, by challenging him to a foot race. Ben won. The bully never bothered Ben again.
In the late 1970’s a coach (and former Canadian champion sprinter himself) Charlie Francis saw Ben at a high school track meet and recognized the potential in this lightning fast teenager. He set the Canadian high school record at OFSAA in 1980 with a time of 10.55.
In the 1980’s, Ben worked extremely hard, pushed his body to the limits. Wanted to quit many times, because the training was so difficult. But he kept on, for many years with very little money. He truly earned all the accolades he acquired.
Charlie Francis coached Ben from approx 1979 all the way until 1993. Together they accomplished what no other Canadian sprinter had ever done before - World Records (1987 and 1988), World Champion (1987) and Olympic Champion (1988).
Ben’s 9.79 from 1988, has to date, not been surpassed by any Canadian.
Ben tested positive for PEDs in September of 1988. Three days after he crossed the finished line first at the Seoul Olympics.
His PED regimen was 0.5 ml of Stanazolol, 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Then 6 weeks off from Stanazolol. Then repeat.
That was what Ben did. That is it.
Yet the IOC, IAAF and worst of all - the Canadian government - decided to make an example of him and give him a crucifixion comparable to Jesus of Nazareth.
Their goal was simple - put this black guy on the cross and the issue of PED use in track and field will be solved.
What a joke. PED use has sky rocketed since Ben. Every Olympic champion in track since Ben has been juiced up to his eyeballs. I am not just talking about the 100m. All the events.
If Ben Johnson was a white guy with Irish ancestry, I can f—-ing guarantee you, that the government of Canada would have handled the case much more differently.
Ben was and still is, the greatest sprinter in Canadian history. I have met him at the York university indoor training facility several times. He is a humble man, friendly, funny and a joy to talk to. I wish him nothing but the best in this cruel world.
He tells his story in detail and with complete honesty in this great documentary:
http://espn.go.com/30for30/film?page=9.79