Ben Johnson headlines Harlem symposium

Disgraced Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson has agreed to speak at the inaugural CLM TV Sports Symposium in Harlem, NY, on May 27.

Johnson set numerous records in the late 1980s in his signature event, the 100m. His 9.79-second clocking to win the 1988 Olympics over American Carl Lewis was regarded as one of the all-time greatest athletic performances.

But if his rise to the top of the sprinting world was dramatic, his fall was catastrophic — not only for Johnson as an individual, but also for the entire sport of track and field.

Johnson’s positive test for steroids after his record-breaking performance in Seoul, set off a firestorm in the media, destroying the reputation of many track athletes. A national investigation, known as the Dubin Inquiry, revealed that steroid-use was rampant in Canadian track and field, largely under the direction of coach Charlie Francis.

Francis passed away earlier this month, after a battle with cancer (Johnson was a pallbearer at the funeral).

Johnson received a lifetime ban from competition, and has remained out of the limelight for the greater part of two decades.

But now, he says he wants to set the record straight. He has always maintained that he wasn’t the only one who took performance-enhancing drugs (all eight sprinters in the 100m final from 1988 have since been connected to drug use).

As a panellist at the upcoming Sports Symposium in Harlem, Johnson believes he’s ready to speak out.

“The time has come to speak the truth about my career and to set the record straight about what happened,” he said.

It’s no coincidence that Johnson is choosing to re-enter the spotlight just months before he’s due to release his autobiography, Seoul to Seoul.

The Sports Symposium will discuss issues relating to the Legacy of the Beijing Olympics and the World Championships.

Segments of the symposium will be aired live online at www.caribbeanlifestyletv.com.