The Dirtiest Race in History - How It All Played Out

"This race was an incredible exhibition of sprinting brilliance and power, but only because it came from a drugs bottle."

In the scorching heat of Seoul during the 1988 Olympic Games, the world watched as two titans of track and field prepared to battle for gold in the men’s 100m final. Carl Lewis, the outspoken American, faced off against Ben Johnson, the quiet Canadian powerhouse and world record holder. What followed wasn’t just the fastest race ever run at the time - it was the most controversial in Olympic history.

We revisit this episode of How It All Played Out, where hosts Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward unpack the dramatic story behind the dirtiest race in history, which changed the face of athletics forever.

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