Woman Charges Ben Johnson With Assault

Track star Ben Johnson was charged with assault Monday after another athlete complained she was attacked last month, police in Toronto said.

Cheryl Thibedeau, a former teammate of Johnson on the Mazda Optimist Track Club, filed a complaint Dec. 24 after an alleged incident at York University’s track and field center in the northern suburbs of Toronto last Dec. 17.

Inspector Stephen Harris said Johnson surrendered to police Monday morning and was released on his own recognizance.

According to Canadian news reports, the alleged incident occurred as Thibedeau was watching Johnson and other sprinters practice their starts. Johnson, who had one of the most explosive starts in the world, has not been as powerful in coming back from a two-year ban for using steroids. He placed second in his first race last Friday in Hamilton, Canada.

According to witnesses, Thibedeau made a remark to Johnson about “being a mere mortal” regarding his start. Thibedeau told police that Johnson grabbed her by the throat and that as a result she suffered a swollen neck, was treated for whiplash and had an asthma attack.

Johnson is to appear in court Jan. 24.

The charge is not expected to keep Johnson out of the Sunkist Invitational indoor track meet at the Sports Arena Friday, where he is scheduled to run the 50-meter dash.

“You don’t like it, it’s negative publicity,” Sunkist promoter Al Franken said. “This is something he doesn’t need. It’s a minor skirmish. It doesn’t sound like much.”