He started as a long jumper, and achieved a personal best of 8.08 in 1979, a national record that stood for 17 years.
He then concentrated on the short sprints, and won numerous medals in 60 metres.
[1] He lost a gold medal at the 1980 European Indoor Championships, however, because of a doping offense.
His brother Patrick Desruelles competed in the men's pole vault.
Ronald was found dead in a hotel in Thailand on 1 November 2015, having committed suicide after the failure of his business.