TORONTO Ben Johnson, the disgraced sprinter who is still banned from official competition, will race against two horses and a car in a charity event this month. The 36-year-old Johnson will run against a standardbred pacer, a thoroughbred and a stock car in an October 15 charity stunt organized by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation to benefit the Children's Wish Foundation for Terminally Ill Children. Lottery spokesman Mike Randall said the bizarre race would be held during a harness-racing card at the Charlottetown driving park.

He said the four participants would cover distances ranging from 80 to 300 meters in a staggered start with the car probably the furthest away and Johnson probably the closest. Johnson has not competed since receiving a lifetime suspension from the International Amateur Athletic Federation in 1993 after failing a second drug test. Johnson was stripped of his 1988 Olympic 100-meter title and world record in Seoul after testing positive for steroids.

His most recent appeal of the ban was denied last month in an Ontario court. Johnson's agent, Morris Chrobotek, who said the sprinter had waived his customary appearance fee to run the charity race, couldn't help taking a swipe at officials who have kept Johnson off the track. I want the Canadian center for ethics in sport to test the horses, Chrobotek said, suggesting that director Victor Lachance personally go out and take the urine from the horses.

(Reuter)