People have often wondered aloud what a big 100m race would be like if everyone was on drugs. Well, 25 years ago today, in Seoul.. they nearly did..
Ben Johnson hared over the line in a phenomenal World Record time of 9.79. We know about the rest of his week after that. Johnson tested positive for steroids three days later.
Carl Lewis, the favourite and the previous Olympic Champ was robbed. The world's sense of outrage at this injustice was diluted somewhat by the revelation in 2003 that Lewis tested positive for at least four banned substances at the 1988 Olympics. So it seems Christie should have won. Ah but then it turned out that he had tested positive for something just before the Games.
Almost all the athletes in this race were on something or other.
Here's Daniel Gordon's fantastic 30 for 30 documentary on the race, the athletes, and the aftermath.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbeb6qB6KPo
