Johnson

LONDON, (Reuters) - CANADIAN SPRINTER Ben Johnson has presented his case for reinstatement to the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) in the hope he will be allowed to compete at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Johnson, who turns 38 in December, was stripped of his gold medal following a positive test for the anabolic steroid stanozolol after winning the 1988 Seoul Olympic 100 metres final in world record time.

Five years later he was banned for life after a second positive drugs test but the decision was overturned by a Canadian Court of Arbitration last April. The court ruled that the Canadian governing body had "failed to follow both IAAF procedures and its own".

IAAF spokesman Giorgio Reineri said yesterday Johnson, his agent and his lawyer had met IAAF representatives at one of the world governing body's offices in Monaco on Tuesday.

He said Johnson's lawyer had presented a submission to a special IAAF sub-commission which will report to the IAAF council in Seville on August 16 .