BEST AVAILABLE COPY Page 24 THE HERALD Wednesday April 18 1890 Ben Johnson should remain on the outside looking in Erstwhile sprinter Ben Johnson made in Canada you say pity is once again Id the news so you know it must be spring Ah yes spring That time of year when the creaking of trees being buffeted by April winds is matched by the creaking in the joints of track and field athletes limbering- up after a long winter of repose Big Ben the sprinter not the world class jumper of the equestrian variety will once again be welcomed by the international track and field fraternity in September after completion of a twoyear suspension imposed by the International Amateur Athletics Federation when a drug test revealed Johnson as a steroid user at the Seoul Olym pics He wont however be welcomed In England But to recap Big Ben the sprinter not the horse was going to carry the Maple Leaf standard to lofty heights never before attained by a Canadian sprinter at the Seoul Olympics At the same time he was going to put a soothing salve on Canadas innate sense of inferiority by van quishing American Carl Lewis the embodiment of all the ills that plague the United States of America I mean it was a given Johnson had just set a new world record in the 100 metres in August leading up to the Seoul Olympics and Canadians clustered around television sets wanting to be a part of the grand moment When Johnson did indeed defeat Lewis to win the Olympic gold medal in the metre event all Canada celebrated Our esteemed Prime Minister Baffle Baloney jumped on the Johnson bandwagon so fast It almost toppled over In stentorian tones our leader hailed Johnson as a role model for Canadians and practically offered him the keys to the kingdom It was rumored he even offered Johnson the keys to shoe closet although this could not be confirmed When Big Ben the sprinter not the hone failed the drug test that revealed steroid use our esteemed leader almost tripped over his jaw in his haste to vacate the Johnson bandwagon Canadas then federal sports minister vowed to impose a lifetime ban on Johnson ever com peting again for Canada It was even rumored that the locks to Milas shoe closet were changed although this could not be confirm ed In accordance with the associa tions policy the IAAF imposed the twoyear ban on Johnson forbid ding him from representing Canada and Canadian sports reluctantly followed suit Apparently there was nothing to the rumor of firing rehearsing on Parliament Hill AS I SEE IT As he was beating a hasty retreat from Seoul Johnson was heard mumbling something that sounded like I never knowingly took no stereos and a hue and cry was raised the length and breadth of our great land to find out where the stereos came from The Dubin inquiry headed by Justice Charles Dubin was established and our esteemed leader Waffle was heard mumbling in stentorian tones something like We will find out who didnt knowingly take no stereos Looking sometimes as confused as one of JRR Tolkiens hobbits Justice headed the inquiry that dragged on for months cost the Canadian taxpayers millions of dollars and for all intents and pur poses was a waste of time and money Johnson finally did admit taking steroids over a long period of time His coach Charlie Francis revealed that the drug culture in track and field was international in scope The physician who supplied Johnson with the majority of steroids Jamie John Paul George Ringo he went by a number of first names Astaphan blinked his way through testimony that if anything provided comic relief rather than substance When prodded about the stockpile of steroids he kept in his Toronto office at first maintained they were for a friend of his who owned a farm and need ed the steroids for sick animals especially his horses Meanwhile back to the ranch inquiry The Dubin inquiry did reveal the insidious worldwide use of drugs in the international track and field community but other than that was viewed by many as a charade instituted for political convenience to coverup for embarrassed politi cians in Ottawa who were leaving tire tracks on their walltowall broadloomed floors in attempting to distance themselves from athletes in general and track and field athletes in particular The three main conspirators in the Canadian steroid scandal got away with little more than slaps on the wrist Astaphan laughed all the way to the bank and is probably still chuckling in his island hideaway Francis the reported master mind behind the drug scheme was being hailed as something of a hero for telling ail at the inquiry Spri ng swii APRIL TO JUNE ting Acton Indoor Pool Georgetown Indoor Pool Hon Public pm Family 730430pm Adult pm Tuw pm Adult 90010 00 pm Wed v Family Public 730430 J Public 800400pm pm pm Sat Public Public Family Family pm Adult pm Adult 500600 pm Sun Disabled 11001230 pm Public Public Family 00 Family 00500 pm Adult Adult 6 Saunas Open For more information call 276 Leading up to Seoul Johnson was able through steroidtainted performances to squirrel away a substantial amount of money while at the same time receiving grants at the Canadian taxpayers ex pense because he was regarded as an amateur athlete Pleading poverty Johnson was able to get enough money out of a fund setup for money he earned as a supposed amateur athlete to start construction of a mansion for his family and buy an expensive sports car for himself He has never paid back any government funds lie received through deception Johnson wants to compete again and this reporter seriously doubts whether his reasoning is purely altruistic to help ease both bruised personal and national pride There reportedly is already a million offer on the table for a match race between Johnson and Lewis Track and field promoters in Japan and Europe long a hotbed for undercover payments to amateur athletes are reportedly slavering over the chance to pro mote Johnsons return from exile Not so in England however and good on the Brits Despite the fact that Johnsons IAAF ban will be lifted in September the English Amateur Athletic Association which governs sport in England has an nounced that Johnson will still be barred from competing in lucrative meets in England because of his suspension for drug He would be allowed however to compete in meets as a member of the Canadian national team for events such as the Commonwealth Games the Olympics or the World Cup Canadian Track and Field Association chairman Jean Guy Ouellette is flabbergasted by the English stance I dont think its fair Ouellette was quoted as say ing Right Mr Ouellette It wasnt too long ago that suggestions for drawing and quartering Johnson might have been wellreceived by the CTFA because of the black eye this same individual had caused the association internationally What hypocrisy Similarly August Klrsch a top West German athletics official questioning the English stance Kirsch has been quoted as calling the English decision scan dalous Give me a break please Drug abuse of various varieties Is a socioeconomic plague that threatens to undermine the very pillars of our society Johnson is not to be pitied Sorry is not enough He knowingly deceived Cana dians and the worldwide track and field brotherhood for years Similarly he profitted by his deception and his lies Johnson cannot be viewed as a firsttime offender because his druguse lasted years Would you want a bank manager convicted of defrauding your bank over a period of years and who had served a twoyear sentence to return to your branch and handle your financial affairs Not likely The CTFA should follow the English lead and have no more to do with Johnson To do otherwise would be a disservice not only to young Cana dian athletes but to Canadian youngsters in general By reinstating Johnson the CTFA would in effect be Issuing a negative message Instead of providing a strong antidrug example for Canadian athletes the reverse would be true Dont get caught would be the credo it anyway Equestrian event has military roots By LESLEY RALSTON Herald Special Myrddin Stables of Georgetown will be hosting two amateur equestrian events The first to be held this Sunday will be a combined Two Phase featuring Dressage and Stadium Jumping only The second scheduled for May 27th will be a oneday event with the three phases of Dressage Stadium Jumping and Cross- Country Interested spectators are invited to attend Myrddin Stables are located one mile west of Trafalgar Road on the south side of 17th Sideroad Eventing is an exciting and challenging equestrian sport which is a complete test of the allround abilities of horse and rider Developed originally as a com petition for military horses it was at one point called The Military It was necessary for wartime messengers to be able to carry dispatches quickly over long distances and varied terrain The horse had to be extremly fit and able to negotiate strange hazards boldly He would only do this if he had complete trust in his riders ability Modem Eventing coiisists of three phases Dressage Cross country and Stadium Jumping each judged separately and the marks combined for a final score The horse and rider team with the least amount of penalties at the end of the competition wins The first phase of a oneday event or Horse Trials is Dressage The Dressage test consists of a series of compulsory movements performed in a certain order Dressage is similar to com pulsory figures in figure skating us it is here that the groundwork is laid for all other disciplines Each horse and rider combina tion is judged on accuracy balance fluency of movement rhythm and the effectiveness of communication between them After Dressage the participants have a short break before they start warming up for Cross- Coun try The CrossCountry course is laid out through varied terrain and over natural obstacles with distances at the amateur levels froml5to3km This phase tests the horses courage speed jumping ability and stamina Most importantly it tests his faith in his rider as there are jumping obstacles the horse has not previously seen For the rider it is a test of skill training and judgement The final phases of the oneday event is Stadium Jumping This stage requires the horse and rider to negotiate a course of brightly coloured fences in an enclosed area The purpose of the Stadium Jum ping is to test the fitness and obe dience of the horse after the demanding fastpaced and ex citing CrossCountry section The combination of these three disciplines makes Event the toughest equestrian sport because in order to do well you must be successful in all three phases Soccer Rebels take to the field The Georgetown District High School Rebels varsity girls soccer team opens regular season East league play Friday with a 30 home encounter against Queen Elizabeth Park High School While the Rebels soccer team has been in training leading up to East league rrgular season play the squad did participate in a recentlyheld indoor tournament involving 48 teams at York Univer sity in Toronto The Rebels finished second In their pool to MM Robinson High School of Burlington and under the tournament format were eliminated from further tourna ment play However as a bouquet to help ease the elimination disappoint ment the Rebels were selected from their pools Sportsmanship award Recreation Report Variety of programs are being offered Utile J 1 The Hills Recreation and Parks Department has an in teresting variety of programs for you to choose from this spnng in cluding INTERIOR DECORATING Pick up some valuable hints and suggestions an sprucing up the house this spring CHI Enhance your health by leam- this historic Chinese art of gen- tie exercise and stretching TENNIS LESSONS Beginner and intermediate classes for children and adults Also being offered are programs in Lawn Bowling Golf Gardening Fitness and Seniors TV and Games Be sure to check your brochure for more details on these and other exciting programs or call 268 ACTON LIONS 2nd ANNUAL Casino Night Dance A APRIL Royal Canadian Legion Hall Wright Ave Acton Tlcketf For Tickets Call Richard Pole 8532089 TICKETS AT THE