Johnson Had Side Effects, Doctor Says

Sprinter Ben Johnson suffered side effects associated with steroid use two years ago, his family doctor said today.

Testifying before a Canadian federal drug inquiry, Dr. Jack Sussman, a general practitioner who also treated Johnson’s mother, said he suspected that the sprinter was on the muscle-building drugs when he discovered his left breast was enlarged.

But when Sussman asked him, Johnson denied that he was using the chemicals, banned in international sport. The condition subsided within a few months, Sussman testified.

‘Impressive’ Development

Sussman, who first noted Johnson’s “impressive” muscle development in 1982, told the inquiry that Johnson also suffered from insomnia in 1987.

Johnson was stripped of his gold medal and world record in the 100-meter sprint at the Seoul Olympics after he failed a drug test. The scandal led to the inquiry.

On Tuesday a lawyer suggested to the inquiry that Dr. Jamie Astaphan, Johnson’s personal doctor, had been stung by a pollen-pushing confidant who claimed that Astaphan was up to no good before the sprinter set a world record in the 100 meters.

Gary Lubin, a former coach at Johnson’s track club, had testified that Astaphan claimed that he gave the sprinter “something extra” before running 100 meters in 9.83 seconds at the 1987 world championships in Rome.

But Astaphan’s lawyer suggested that Lubin made the remarks to get back at Astaphan, who had refused to help Lubin in his attempt to get athletes to take his bee pollen supplements.

“I’m reluctant to do this, but I must put it to you, Mr. Lubin,” lawyer David Sookram said. “You tried to push your bee pollen onto the athletes . . . and Dr. Astaphan refused to help you, so you tried to get back at him now.”

“Not this coach, Mr. Sookram,” Lubin replied.

Earlier, the head of Canada’s Olympic team in Seoul said Astaphan was concerned Johnson might have taken pills on his own before failing a drug test.