THE SEOUL GAMES / THE BEN JOHNSON CONTROVERSY : Johnson Could Run for Jamaica in 1992

Although sprinter Ben Johnson is likely to be suspended from competing for Canada at least through the 1992 Olympics after testing positive for an anabolic steroid, International Olympic Committee rules would allow him to represent his native country, Jamaica.

Michelle Verdier of the IOC said Thursday, however, that she believes there is little possibility of that.

“We’ll see in ’92 if Jamaica puts Ben Johnson on the team,” she said. “But because of the media (backlash), I can’t see any country putting him on its team.

“We have to get away from the emotional shock (of his disqualification), but it’s not likely that will happen.”

Johnson won the 100 meters Saturday, but had to forfeit his gold medal when a drug test revealed his steroid use.

According to rules of the International Amateur Athletic Federation, which governs track and field, Johnson will be suspended from competing in the sport internationally for 2 years.

But sanctions of the Canadian Olympic Assn. are stricter, enabling officials to suspend athletes who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs for life. Dr. Roger Jackson, COA president, said it has been Canadian policy to suspend athletes through the next Pan American and Olympic Games.

That would enable Johnson, 26, to compete for Canada again after the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

But Verdier said that Johnson could compete for Jamaica in 1992 if he regains citizenship within 3 years of the Games. Johnson moved to Canada with his mother when he was 14, but his father still lives in Jamaica.

“If he has Jamaican nationality 3 years before the Olympics, there would be no problem,” Verdier said. “He would not need the approval of the Canadian Olympic Assn. to compete for Jamaica.”

Johnson’s agent, Larry Heidebrecht of Williamsburg, Va., brought up that possibility in an interview Wednesday night with Ted Koppel on ABC’s “Nightline.” He said that if Johnson wants to compete in the next Olympics, a country could be found that would add the sprinter to its team.

Contacted Thursday at the Olympic Village, Jamaica’s team manager, Don Anderson, said: “That would be a decision the government would have to make. It’s difficult to say what they would do. I can’t comment on it at all.”