The Loser

Indeed, it's possible—perhaps even likely—that the busting of Johnson will serve his sport far better than he himself has. As Mary Slaney said after she learned of the guilty verdict, "I think it's wonderful. Not because of Ben, but because I want a clean sport. The fact that a thing this big can't be swept under the rug is a sign of hope."

But not for Ben Johnson, who had been transformed from a man with one of the brightest, richest futures in all of sport to a man with nothing to look forward to but days of shame.