Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson won the event in a world - record time .
Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson was later stripped of his gold medal after testing positive for anabolic steroid use , and American Carl Lewis , who had finished second , took the gold .
Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson won the event in a world - record time , but was later stripped of his gold medal after testing positive for anabolic steroid use , and American Carl Lewis , who had finished second , took the gold .