Ben Johnson's 1988 Olympics dope test reports were tampered with
Canadian sprinter Benjamin Johnson was a popular figure in the sporting world and had won the 100m sprint at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games in record time (9.79 seconds). However, he was then tested and found positive for using banned substances and subsequently stripped of his gold medal. Interestingly, now a report suggests that his medical report was tampered with. Details follow.
Johnson had earlier admitted to taking steroids
A committee called the Dublin Enquiry was set up to question Johnson regarding the medical reports, and to them, he had agreed to taking banned substances. Later, his coach, the late Charlie Francis had also written in his memoir that Johnson did take a steroid called furazabol, but did not take the substance he was accused of, stanozolol.
The IOC's medical commission had withheld the report earlier
The International Olympic Committee had reportedly withheld Johnson's lab reports from the Canadian authorities and did not let them have a look at it. Canada's chief medical officer, Dr. Stanish, had requested the report but was prevented by the medical commission of IOC. Johnson also later said that the IOC didn't want his coach to see the reports as "he would have noticed mistakes."
Other top athletes were using steroids as well
In their statement to the Dublin Enquiry, Johnson and Francis had said that Johnson was using steroids to remain at the same level, as the other athletes he was competing against. Six of the eight 100m participants of the 1988 Seoul Olympics were found involved in steroid-related controversies in their careers, including Carl Lewis, who was given the gold medal after Johnson was disqualified.
