Ben Johnson to Run Again for Canada : Drugs: The government reverses its lifetime ban on the sprinter for using steroids at Seoul Olympics.

Sprinter Ben Johnson, who lost his world’s fastest-human title and was kicked out of the 1988 Olympics for using steroids, was given government clearance today to run again for Canada.

Canadian Sports Minister Marcel Danis reversed the ruling of his predecessor, Jean Charest, who in 1988 placed Johnson under a lifetime ban from competing for the national team.

Minutes later, the president of Athletics Canada said Johnson will be reinstated to a national team after his two-year suspension by track and field’s international governing body expires Sept. 24--if the sprinter can meet team standards.

Though Johnson will be able to compete again, he and any other Canadian athlete caught using performance-enhancing drugs face lifetime bans on receiving direct federal funds.

In making his announcement, Danis warned that athletes caught using banned drugs in the future will face even stiffer penalties. He proposed that the suspension for a first-time offense be doubled, from two years to four.

“We accept the notion . . . that anti-doping rules ought not put the federal government in the position of deciding day-to-day matters relating to the eligibility of individual athletes, coaches, trainers and others,” the sports minister said.

Johnson was stripped of his gold medal and world record for the 100-meter dash at the Seoul Olympics after testing positive for steroids.

“I’m just very happy that the government gave me the OK to run for this country again,” Johnson said in the driveway at his family home in east suburban Toronto.

“I want to thank the Canadian public who supported me. This is one of the happiest days of my life, so far. I am very, very happy that I can run for this country again.”