Actually it was only around the time of the Athens Olympics in 2004 that Andre Jackson - the “mystery man” in the Seoul test waiting area - contacted Ben and met him in Toronto with an alleged confession.
This story goes way deeper than just this successful alleged attempt to eliminate Ben from the game. There were allegedly numerous other attempts which failed - when they shouldn’t have - thereby raising questions of protection and allegedly implicating some of the most powerful and influential people in the sport.
I am sure that a big part of the reason for the delay in publishing will have been the legal minefield Ben is running through to tell what he can prove, as distinct from what he knows but cannot prove in a court of law.
He will write this book with one hand tied behind his back by his own lawyers even if the alleged “hired assassin” stands firm and willing to testify in court.
Even then, just because you testify in court doesn’t automatically mean you win the case. Truth is not a defence against defamation in many jurisdictions.
Apart from that, it would be the publisher who stands to lose a heap of money because they will be party to being sued.
And there seems no doubt in my mind that if this book hits the streets there will be litigation and attempts from the highest places in the sport to pulp this book pronto.
If it ever comes out, buy it ASAP because - like Speed Trap - there will be powers in play who want to see the truths it contains never see the light of day.