The Sidelines : Former Coach of Ben Johnson Gets Lifetime Ban From Track

Charlie Francis, the former coach of sprinter Ben Johnson, has been banned for life from the sport of track because of his advocacy of the use of steroids by athletes.

Athletics Canada, the national governing body for track and field, announced the ban Tuesday. Francis can’t appeal the ban for at least seven years.

Athletics Canada President Paul Dupre said Francis was banned because he has indicated he would continue to give steroids to athletes if given the chance. Dupre said he felt the ban was lenient. But Robert Armstrong, former counsel for the federal inquiry into doping, said the action is a professional death penalty against a man who helped in the fight against drug abuse in amateur sports.

Armstrong said even though Francis admitted advocating the use of banned anabolic steroids for his sprinters, his testimony was critical in breaking the conspiracy of silence surrounding the practice in Canada.

Francis said he has no intention of making an appeal.

“To appeal would indicate I’d want to have something to do with these people. I have no desire to appeal.”