In pictures: Ben Johnson at Seoul Games in 1988

Johnson's contest was not with Mitchell, though, but his compatriot Carl Lewis, far right. The 26 year old won, edging Lewis and creating a new world record of 9.79 seconds in the process. The British Linford Christie, second right, finished third while Calvin Smith, second left, of the United States, placed fourth. AFP

The Jamaican-born Johnson broke his own record of 9.84 set in the 1987 World Championships at Rome.

Three days later, however, the 'Human Bullet' received a two-year ban after testing positive for the steroid stanolozol. AFP

Johnson, who made a comeback in 1992 at the Barcelona Olympics, only to test positive again a year later – this time for testosterone – incurred a life-time ban. In July 1997, the disgraced sprinter told the Argentine newspaper La Nacion: "I know I am the fastest man in the world and no-one can deny it. My only mistake was to run too fast. Drugs cannot make you break a world record, they only improve you by 25 per cent." He eventually admitted to wrong-doing.

Johnson has returned to the venue where he 'created history' on Tuesday. He says he is still being punished for what he did 25 years ago. Kim Doo-Ho / AFP

Johnson gestures to an audience as he stands next to a 100m long anti-doping petition on the sixth lane of a running track at the Seoul Olympic Stadium. The 51 year old’s return to Seoul was the final leg of a global tour as standard bearer of the #ChooseTheRightTrack campaign, which calls for new strategies to combat continued drug use in athletics. Kim Doo-Ho / AFP