Ben Johnson Could Race Again

Disgraced former Olympian Ben Johnson took his first step toward reinstatement Monday, but the sprinter is still a long way from lining up in the starting blocks.

Adjudicator Graeme Mew ruled that the 37-year-old Johnson's application for reinstatement in Canada should be allowed to go ahead, pending certain conditions.

"I never lost faith," said Johnson, stripped of his Olympic gold medal and 100-meter world record after testing positive for steroids at the 1988 games.

Johnson has big plans in the event he is reinstated by the International Amateur Athletics Federation, track's world governing body.

"If they approve my application by May or June, I could run in the world championships in Spain," he said. "I would run in Barcelona, Zurich, Cologne. I would like to run in Sydney at the Olympics."

Mew's ruling was based on procedural errors in the handling of Johnson's 1993 lifetime suspension for a second positive drug test at an indoor competition in Montreal.

But the decision does not vindicate Johnson over the sanction, nor does it allow him to compete anytime soon.

The ruling does mean Athletics Canada must file an application to the IAAF seeking Johnson's reinstatement. What happens after that is up to the IAAF.

In the meantime, the former world 100-meter champion remains under lifetime suspension by the IAAF.

One condition of Mew's ruling was that Johnson not attempt to compete in Canada until the issue is settled by the international body.

Johnson's agent, Morris Chrobotek, said he expects to complete Johnson's application by week's end and have it in the hands of IAAF officials early next week.

"It has been tough, but it took me 15 years to become the No. 1 in the world, so I have enough patience to get through this," Johnson said. "I'm very happy, but I don't have time to jump around and celebrate. I still can't compete and we still have some things to do."

A conditioning program is foremost among them.

"I'm not in running shape right now, but I can be in no time," Johnson said. "I've been doing this for 22 years. I know what it takes. I weigh 188 pounds right now. I'll be down to 174 by the end of May."

Both Johnson and Chrobotek have maintained that the sprinter never received a fair hearing after his 1993 drug test.

In his ruling, Mew suggests "that Mr. Johnson was not adequately informed of the options available to him," and that in 1993 Athletics Canada "misinformed" Johnson about the type of hearing he was entitled to following the IAAF doping commission's decision.

Mew's ruling also stated that the IAAF did not adequately inform Johnson of his procedural options.

Johnson, who still vehemently denies ever taking a banned substance, is anxious to have his day in court.

"I want to tell my side of the story and clear my name,"he said. "My job is to run, and that is where I belong."

Both Athletics Canada and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports say they will support Johnson's attempt for reinstatement by the IAAF.

"We will do it in writing and, if necessary, with a physical presence," said Athletics Canada president John Thresher.

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