Johnson’s sympathy for Armstrong

Former sprinter Ben Johnson believes fellow drug cheat Lance Armstrong can be loved again by the American public.

Disgraced cyclist Armstrong admitted for the first time to taking drugs during his career in an interview with Oprah Winfrey shown during the week.

And Johnson, who was banned for taking steroids at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, has sympathy for Armstrong. “American people will forgive him,” he told BBC Radio 5.

“I don’t think it will be tough for him to make a living. I hope he can move on and do good things.

“If he can find some way to make a living, he will be fine. I think people will judge him differently, based on what he did for humanity and for cancer.”