It was on this day in 1988 that Ben Johnson set a new world record and won Olympic gold in the men’s 100 meter race at the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.  However, Johnson was stripped of his medal when his urine sample tested positive for stanozol, a substance on the banned list of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Although he was made out to look like the bad guy, it was later revealed that at least four other competitors in the race tested positive for steroids at some point in the near future.  Carl Lewis, Johnson’s biggest competitor and the man who was given the gold would test positive along with silver medalist Linford Christie.  Dennis Mitchell and Desai Williams who participated in the men’s 100 meter final would also eventually be caught for doping.

Ben Johnson went from being a Canadian hero to a national disgrace in a matter of just a couple of days.

Here is the men’s 100 meter final from the 1988 Olympics

Notable Birthdays

Rafael Palmeiro, MLB – Born September 24th 1964 (age 48) in Havana, Cuba

Eddie George, NFL – Born September 24th 1973 (age 39) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Randy Foye, NBA – Born September 24th 1983 (age 29) in Newark, New Jersey