TORONTO, Reuter: Disgraced Olympic sprinter Ben Johnson, who quietly resumed training this week, said on Friday he would welcome the chance to race archrival Carl Lewis anywhere, anytime.
Lewis’s agent Joc Douglas told a Toronto newspaper on Thursday he was approached recently by a member of the Johnson camp about the possibility of a lucrative match race between the two rivals, possibly next summer.
‘And Glen Calkins, who handles Johnson’s Canadian endorsements, said he has been contacted by three different U.S. interests about the possibility of a Johnson Lewis duel.
“I’ll race Carl anywhere, anytime,” Jobnson, who appeared noticeably thinner than he was in Seoul, told reporters during ‘a workout session.
“I’d like to race him, but it’s going to be hard,” said Johnson, who resumed his daily training schedule on the track on Monday.
“I’ve got to keep in shape,” said the 26 year old Jamaican born Canadian sprinter who still holds the world record of 9.83 seconds for the 100 meters.
Douglas said the chance of a match race was remote and would not happen if Lewis’s status with the international amateur Athletic Association (IAAF) was endangered.
Lewis could possibly face suspension under IAAF rule if he were to race against a banned athlete.
Johnson is under suspension by the TAAF and the Canadian track and field association (CTFA) for two years after being stripped of his Olympic 100 meters Gold Medal for the Anabolic steroid stanozolol.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 25, 1988
