Johnson Suspended 2 Years by Canadian Panel

Ben Johnson, the Canadian sprinter who was stripped of his gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the Seoul Games after testing positive for steroid use, on Monday was suspended from competition for 2 years by the Canadian Track and Field Assn.

Charlie Francis, Johnson’s personal coach, also was suspended indefinitely without pay. He reportedly earned more than $40,000 a year.

Johnson’s suspension is retroactive to Sept. 24, the day he tested positive for stanozolol.

The 2-year suspension was levied by the International Amateur Athletic Federation, the world governing body for track and field, and ratified by the Canadian body. It cannot be appealed.

But Johnson can appeal the loss of the gold medal to the International Olympic Committee’s court of arbitration for sport, said Paul Dupre, head of the Canadian group, which also plans to investigate charges of widespread drug use among Canadian track athletes.