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Desai Williams, a finalist in the 100 meter sprint event at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, has died at age 62.
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Williams died suddenly on the weekend. There was no cause of death given.
William was one of the world’s top sprinters in the 1980s, helping the Canadian 4×100 meter team win the bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics – along with Ben Johnson, Sterling Hinds and Tony Sharpe.
He also finished sixth in the 1988 100-meter final, a race infamous for Canada’s Ben Johnson winning the event in a world-record time (9.79 seconds), only to be stripped off the gold medal and the world record a few days later when I have tested positive for anabolic steroids. Years later, it was revealed that every sprinter in that final had been caught up using illegal substances at one time or another, including Williams.
Born in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Williams became a national team sprint coach after he competitive career ended, as well as a speed coach for the Toronto Argonauts.
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On Monday, former Argos quarterback Damon Allen tweeted: ‘My Condolences to the family of Desai Williams, I will miss our times on the track during our run to the Gray Cup in 2004. Thank you RIP.’ The tweet was accompanied by crown and praying hands emojis.
Williams reached the semifinals in the 100 meters at the 1983 and 1987 world track and field championships. He set his personal best in the 200 meters in a time of 20.29 seconds in 1983 and a PB in the 100 (10.11) in Seoul.
Williams trained with the Scarborough Optimists Track Club, which was affiliated with the Ben Johnson scandal. Club coach Charlie Francis, working with Dr. Jamie Astaphan, had supplied performance-enhancing drugs to Johnson, Williams, Tony Sharpe, Angella Taylor, Mark McKoy and others.