Skier Bill Johnson, the 1984 Olympic downhill...

Skier Bill Johnson, the 1984 Olympic downhill gold medalist who has struggled to recover from injuries, was suspended from the U.S. Ski Team for 21 days, an action that could drop him permanently, since he must pick up points in the remaining races this season to maintain his ranking. The World Cup season ends March 27.

“Billy didn’t give us a whole lot of options,” said Harald Schoenhaar, director of the Alpine program. “At Whistler Mountain (in Canada) last weekend, he had a shouting match with (men’s downhill coach Gary Miller). Let’s say that he didn’t exactly use elegant language. I understand he hit the coach on the shinbone with a ski pole.

“I think the best thing for Billy would be to resign. We could kick him off the team, but I don’t want to do that. This is a guy who won a gold medal for this country. That would be a sad thing to do.”