Italian Sprinter Denies Taking Steroids

Italy’s top sprinter, Pier Francesco Pavoni, today denied allegations by Ben Johnson’s physician that he took steroids to enhance his performance.

In a written statement released to reporters, Pavoni denounced as “a monstrous conspiracy” Jamie Astaphan’s claim that the runner admitted the use of steroids in a tape-recorded phone conversation. (Story, Part III, Page 1.)

“I want to confirm I never asked to use steroids. I only took injections of vitamins. I passed dozens of anti-doping tests. . . . I am surprised that the Canadian inquiry allows everybody to give out false reports,” Pavoni said.