Speed Trap: Inside the Biggest Scandal in Olympic History [Hardcover]

Charlie Francis (Author), Jeff Coplon (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Former Canadian track coach Francis presents his account of events leading up to sprinter Ben Johnson's infamous 100-meter run at the 1988 Olympics, on the heels of which came the forfeiture of Johnson's gold medal for failing a drug test. Francis offers few regrets. Instead, he contends his pupil was possibly a victim of foul play (several theories are advanced), though he admits to Johnson's participation in a sophisticated steroids program. He argues that success on the international track circuit is largely dependent on chemical assistance, that the health hazard has been overblown, and that "if mature and informed elite athletes conclude that they must take steroids to survive in their sport, and can do so without jeopardizing their health, they should be able to make that choice freely." Such views are certain to be controversial while at the same time reflective of the direction the sport has taken in recent years. A disturbing, thought-provoking perspective.
- Wil liam H. Hoffman, Ft. Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., Fla .
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 306 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr (January 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312048777
• ISBN-13: 978-0312048778
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,082,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Talks the truth about track and field, January 11, 2000

By 

B. Hildebrandt (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Speed Trap: Inside the Biggest Scandal in Olympic History (Hardcover)

Even though I know drug use runs rampant in track and field today, this book presents a side of the sport that dearly needed to be said. Most people have been too scared to publicly talk about it which I applaud him for. This book also brought to my attention the new style training methods on speed which I found extremely helpful. I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks Maurice Green or Donavan Bailey aren't on Steriods or any other form of banned ergogenic aids.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drugs and the Elite Athlete, May 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Speed Trap: Inside the Biggest Scandal in Olympic History (Hardcover)

This book was written after the Seoul Olympics and after Ben Johnson's 1st place finish. However, the logic and the motivation for using synthetic performance enhancements amongst world class athletes is clearly outlined and is applicable to all professional athletics, not just Olympic level track and field, where the financial stakes are huge for both participants and sponsors, and media attention is unrelenting. Recent revelations by MLB stars like Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti confirm the logic and motivation so clearly, honestly and cogently outlined by Francis in Speed Trap.

Most disturbing is that there doesn't seem to be any turning back on this path of drug use among elite athletes as long as athletics continues to be the potent economic engine that it is, and continues to hold out the promise of lottery-type earnings to hopeful young athletes all over the world.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tremendous Read, July 1, 2006

By 

C. Carter "Sprinter" (VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Speed Trap: Inside the Biggest Scandal in Olympic History (Hardcover)

A well-written book. I highly recommend this to anyone involved in developing sprinters, as it sheds the light on the techniques of one of the sport's greatest coaches of all time. I applaud his courage to step forward on an issue that is commonplace these days. Both men's and women's elite sprinters are on performance-enhancing substances, and will remain as long as GH and such substances cannot be detected (forever). The fact remains that Ben Johnson performed at the level that he did in a time when all other sprinters were unable to do so. The current sprinters are breaking his record, and are doing so through the same means. Again, an exciting read for coaches interested in following the development of some of the world's fastest men and women in the way that it should be and is done.