Athlete Says Canadians Knew of Drug Use

Steve Findlay, the athletes’ representative for the Canadian Track and Field Assn. admitted Thursday at the Canadian Government’s inquiry into drug use among athletes that he had evidence of steroid use by some of Canada’s top athletes eight months before the Seoul Olympics. He said Wilf Wedmann, association president, refused to act.

Wedmann, who testified briefly before the inquiry adjourned for the day, will have a chance to answer the allegation Friday.

Findlay told the inquiry his evidence was based on a January, 1988, meeting with Canadian decathlete Dave Steen.

Findlay said Steen told him that Dr. Jamie Astaphan had offered him steroids in late 1987, confirming earlier testimony by Steen. Steen also told him Astaphan had been injecting sprinter Angela Issajenko with steroids to improve her performance after a poor showing at the national track competition in Ottawa in January of 1988. Astaphan has admitted he injected Issajenko, Ben Johnson and other athletes training with Coach Charlie Francis.

Findlay said he did not pursue the matter with Paul Dupre, who replaced Wedmann as president in May of 1988.