Olympic champion Carl Lewis has begun legal...

Olympic champion Carl Lewis has begun legal action against a West German magazine and a Canadian cable network for reporting that he used performance-enhancing drugs, according to a report in today’s New York Times. Toronto lawyer Timothy Danson has sent letters seeking a retraction, an apology and damages from Stern magazine and The Sports Network, the newspaper reported.

Under Canadian law, plaintiffs are required to notify defendants of pending legal action, then must file suit within 90 days.

Also being notified is Darrell Robinson, the former American 400-meter champion who accused Lewis of using drugs in the Stern story, and Bill Watters, a commentator on TSN, who according to Danson said on the program “The Sports Page” that Lewis used drugs.