Johnson’s Coach Upset Over Medical Report

Ben Johnson’s coach said today that he was concerned by a medical report indicating the Canadian sprinter has an enlarged breast, a mild side effect of prolonged anabolic steroid use.

Testifying for an eighth and final day at a government inquiry into drug use in amateur sport, Charlie Francis was asked by Justice Charles Dubin, who heads the inquiry, if he was aware Johnson had an enlarged left breast.

The condition, known as gynecomastia, is considered to be a side effect of long-term use of anabolic steroids.

“No, I was not aware of it,” said Francis, who had coached Johnson since 1977 and last week testified that the sprinter had used steroids since 1981.

“Would you be concerned about it as a side effect?” asked Dubin.

“Yes, I would have been concerned, especially in light of the dosages (of steroids) involved. That should not be observed with the dosages concerned,” he replied.

Francis, after eight days of detailing steroid use by the sprinter and other Canadian athletes, left the witness stand today with a plea for other coaches and athletes to tell the truth about drugs and help clean up the sport.

“I love the sport,” Francis said after urging others to follow his lead in exposing the use of banned substances.

The coach was the first witness at the hearing called after Johnson lost his 100-meter gold medal and world record at the Seoul Olympics when he tested positive for steroids.

Johnson’s lawyer, Ed Futerman, needed only 20 minutes today to conclude 2 1/2 days of often-sharp cross examination.

Senior commission counsel Robert Armstrong announced that the next witness, when the hearing resumes Monday, will be champion woman sprinter Angella Taylor Issajenko.