Chief Justice Charles Dubin and the Dubin Inquiry

Legends I Discovered on My Walks: Justice Charles Dubin

On a quiet walk through Holy Blossom Park Memorial in Toronto, I came across the grave of one of Ontario’s most respected Chief Justices—Charles Dubin.

Justice Dubin was born in 1921 in Hamilton, Ontario—“The Hammer”—the same steel town that gave us Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Steve Paikin, Karen Kain, Jack Kent Cooke, and so many other notable Canadians.

A brilliant legal mind, Dubin graduated as a Gold Medalist from Osgoode Hall Law School. He went on to practise law at the firm Kimber, Dubin, Brunner & Armstrong—later part of Tory Tory DesLauriers & Binnington.

Though he had a distinguished legal and judicial career, Dubin is best known for the role he played in the aftermath of a sprint that shocked the world.

At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Canada’s Ben Johnson stormed to victory in the 100-metre final, beating Carl Lewis and setting a world record of 9.79 seconds. For a brief moment, Canada had a new national hero.

But just two days later, the celebration turned to scandal. Johnson tested positive for anabolic steroids and was stripped of his gold medal. The country was stunned, embarrassed, and searching for answers.

Enter Justice Dubin.

Appointed to lead a federal inquiry into drug use in sport, he presided over 91 days of testimony from 121 witnesses. His findings—what became known as The Dubin Inquiry—revealed a deeply rooted culture of performance-enhancing drug use, not just among athletes but across the broader system that enabled them.

Justice Dubin famously concluded that there was “a moral crisis in sports that required society to examine the values attached to sport.” His report included over 70 recommendations, many of which helped reshape anti-doping policies in Canada and influenced international standards.

Justice Charles Dubin, died in Toronto on October 27, 2008. He was 87.

His grave marker reads as follows:

An inspiration for all who knew him.

1921-2008