Ben Johnson

Olympic sprinter Ben Johnson, the focus of a Canadian government inquiry into the use of drugs in sports, suffered minor injuries when he was assaulted outside a nightclub early Thursday morning, police said. Johnson's attorney, Ed Futerman, said the five male attackers had recognized the Canadian athlete, who was stripped of his gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the Seoul Olympics because he tested positive for steroids. Police said the incident occurred at about 2 a.m., EDT, just after Johnson and fellow Canadian athletes Mark McKoy and Desai Williams had left a nightclub in the city's swank Yorkville district.

The Olympic Games offer competitors the chance to bathe in national glory and international acclaim. The victors - indeed, all the athletes who aspire to victory - are celebrated in the Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius, Fortius. " Faster, higher, stronger. Yet celebration and aspiration sometimes share the Olympic spotlight with controversy, with scandal and with athletes who train and compete outside the bounds of Citius, Altius and Fortius. One ranking of the 10 least pure moments in the history of the Summer Games: No. 10 (1912)

Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, who was stripped of the gold medal he won in the 1988 Olympics after he tested positive for steroids, was charged by Niagara Regional Police after he was involved in an accident Wednesday. A car driven by Johnson, 28, of Scarborough, Canada, was struck by that of Nancy Vandergriendt, 26, of Niagara Falls, who was pulling out of a parking, police said.

A few of the standout stars from "The Last Picture Show's" ensemble cast: Ben Johnson A longtime member of John Ford's stock company, the veteran character actor earned a supporting actor Oscar as Sam the Lion. Cloris Leachman The actress was appearing as Phyllis on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" when she won the supporting actress Oscar as embittered Ruth Popper. Cybill Shepherd She was a superstar model when she made her film debut as the beautiful, spoiled Jacy Farrow.

Ben Johnson may trade his spikes for showshoes--yes, snowshoes--and compete for Canada in the 1990 Nordic sprint championships. Nick Akers, executive director of the Canadian Amateur Snowshoe Assn., said Tuesday his group has invited Johnson to compete in the championships in Edmonton, Alberta, on Dec. 9. "I think Ben would add a lot of credibility to the sport, because I don't think you can find any snow-shoers in the world who would come close to him," Akers said.

Sprinter Ben Johnson has been sued for breach of contract and damages of $425,000 by his Canadian agent. Toronto-based Communique Ltd. negotiated Canadian contracts for Johnson, who was stripped of the gold medal he won in the 100 meters at the Seoul Olympics for taking steroids. The U.S. companies Heritage Sports, Heritage Group Inc. and Diversified Equities Ltd., which hold the runner's worldwide rights, are also being sued.

Ben Johnson got the green light from the Canadian government to return to competition, but his eligibility for teams sanctioned by the Canadian Olympic Assn. has not been determined, the association said today. The COA, which has jurisdiction over Canadian participation in the Olympics and the Pan American Games, said in a news release that it reserves the right to extend any suspension imposed by national or international federations.

Ben Johnson ran to victory in the 55-meter dash of the Ottawa Winternational indoor meet Saturday night, his first victory since the drug-tainted Olympic 100-meter final in 1988. With about 6,000 fans cheering him on, Johnson hit the finish tape in 6.20 seconds, .01 seconds ahead of Canadian Brian Morrison. In third was Floridian Daron Council, who spoiled Johnson's celebrated return to track by edging him at 50 meters in the Hamilton, Ontario indoor meet two weeks ago.

World 100-meter champion Ben Johnson signed a $2.5-million, five-year sponsorship deal with an Italian shoe and clothing company Friday. Johnson, from Canada, signed with Diadora, which has sponsored tennis players Bjorn Borg of Sweden, Guillermo Vilas of Argentina, and Formula One racing drivers Alain Prost of France and Niki Lauda of Austria. The contract is believed to be the largest individual sponsorship deal in track and field. Johnson, who set the world record of 9.

Ben Johnson of Canada won the 100-meter dash in an even 10 seconds Thursday at the Koblenz international track and field meet. Stanley Floyd was second in 10.39 seconds. William van Dijck of Belgium had the best time of the year in the 3,000-meter steeplchase, 8:13.27. Britain's Steve Ovett finished a disappointing 11th in the 5,000 meters.

LONDON -- Disgraced sprinter Ben Johnson wasn't surprised by Marion Jones' confession, and he's waiting for more athletes to admit they took banned drugs. "I believe that everyone on the international level is using performance-enhancing drugs," Johnson said in a radio interview with Al-Jazeera. "And, you know, it's widespread and it's going to continue on. A lot more people [are] going to be also coming forward."

Disgraced sprinter Ben Johnson has claimed rival Carl Lewis played a part in a conspiracy to sabotage his drug sample at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Johnson set a world record of 9.79 seconds to win the 100 meters at Seoul but was stripped of his gold medal and world record when he tested positive for the banned steroid stanozolol. The Canadian-born sprinter since has admitted using banned drugs but insists his positive test at Seoul was the result of a conspiracy to discredit him.

Jamie Astaphan, 60, the doctor who gave Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson the steroids that cost him an Olympic gold medal, died Friday at his home in Frigate Bay, St. Kitts and Nevis, after a heart attack. Astaphan, a native of the Caribbean island, moved back to St. Kitts from Toronto in 1986.

Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry, 67, spends his retirement enjoying long fishing trips, attending baseball functions at Cooperstown, N.Y., and stopping by memorabilia shows to sign autographs to earn some pocket change from fans who still adore the 314-game winner. During his 22 big league seasons Perry was best known for one pitch. That's why he titled his autobiography "Me and the Spitter."

Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for one of the oldest and easily detected steroids, two New York newspapers reported in today's editions, casting doubt upon Palmeiro's suggestion that he was tripped up by a tainted dietary supplement. The Baltimore Oriole slugger tested positive for stanolozol, the New York Times and Newsday reported, citing unidentified sources.

Marion Jones' association with banned sprint coach Charlie Francis has raised eyebrows among international track officials -- and now USA Track and Field and the International Assn. of Athletics Federations want to talk to her about it. Jones, who won three gold medals and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and 100-meter world record holder Tim Montgomery, her partner on and off the track, had been coached by Trevor Graham in Raleigh, N.C., until late last year.

Sprinter Ben Johnson, declaring himself fit and drug-free, said Monday that he will begin his comeback in January after a two-year suspension for steroid use. Johnson said he wants to win the world and Olympic titles in the next two years and regain the world record in the 100 meters. "I want to take back the titles and the records I have been deprived of," Johnson said, adding that his first meet would be the Hamilton Spectator Games at Hamilton, Canada, Jan. 11.

Andre Cason of the United States continued his mastery of the indoor sprints by winning the 60 meters Friday at the world indoor track and field championships at Seville, Spain. Ben Johnson of Canada finished fourth. Cason finished in 6.54 seconds and Linford Christie of Britain, the European indoor champion, was second in 6.55. Chidi Imoh of Nigeria edged Johnson. In the women's 60, Soviet sprinter Irina Sergeyeva handed Jamaica's Merlene Ottey her first defeat of the season as she won in 7.

I think I know who is going to win today's long-awaited duel at 200 meters between Michael Johnson and Maurice Greene (Johnson). Most other media members think they know who is going to win (Johnson). Most of the athletes and coaches think they know who is going to win (Johnson). But if you want opinions that really count, you should turn to the people who are willing to put money on them--bettors.

* PEPPERDINE (9-5) at NORTHWESTERN (4-8), 11 a.m. PST--This is Pepperdine's last tuneup before West Coast Conference play. Northwestern will counter Pepperdine's up-tempo style by trying to slow the pace. The Wildcats, who have lost three in a row, have seven freshmen and four sophomores on their roster. Freshman guard Ben Johnson averages 11.7 points and either Johnson or sophomore guard Steve Lepore has led the team in scoring in 10 of 12 games.