Sprinter Denies He Took Drugs With Johnson in ’81

Sprinter Desai Williams denied today that he began taking steroids along with teammate Ben Johnson in 1981.

Charlie Francis, who coached Canada’s sprint team through the 1988 Summer Olympics, has identified Williams as one of the athletes who for years took the banned drugs.

“Charlie knew my thoughts on anabolic steroids,” Williams told a federal inquiry into drugs in amateur sport, adding that he is opposed to the drugs.

Williams, 29, said Francis took him in 1981 to see Dr. Gunter Helge Koch of Toronto, where he had a physical examination.

He said that Francis then broached the subject of steroids but that Koch was opposed to the idea.

“The doctor said: ‘No, this a strong young guy, I don’t think it’s necessary.’ He said: ‘I don’t want to get involved in this.’ ”

Williams said he and Francis left the doctor’s office and the coach handed him a bottle of steroid pills.

“I was startled,” said Williams, adding he later threw the bottle away.

‘Do Things His Way’

Williams said he did not throw the pills away in front of Francis because “I knew Charlie’s outlook on steroids. I had to do things his way or I took the highway.”

Williams, who still is competing, won a bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics as part of Canada’s 1,600-meter relay team. He also made the finals in the 100 meters at last fall’s Seoul Olympics.