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7 brazen Summer Olympics cheating scandals beyond the Canada Soccer drone controversy

blake schuster
·1 min read
Feb 25, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Canada forward Adriana Leon (19) celebrates her goal with teammates against Paraguay during the second half at Shell Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Canada forward Adriana Leon (19) celebrates her goal with teammates against Paraguay during the second half at Shell Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Canadian women's soccer team was caught allegedly using drones to spy on their opponents alleged years-long surveillance program run by both the Canadian men's and women's

1932 Los Angeles: Bertil Sandström's clicking costs him silver in dressage

Bertil Sandström should've known. He won silver in individual dressage in 1920 and 1924 and was about to claim another in 1932 when he was dropped down to last place for "giving clicking noise signals to his horse."

1976 Montreal Olympics: Boris Onischenko's épée 

Soviet athlete Boris Onischenko puts on his socks after he was disqualified because he had manipulated his sword in the fencing event, on July 19, 1976 during the Summer Olympic Games, in Montreal. AFP / EPU / IOPP PHOTO (Photo credit should read /AFP via Getty Images)
Soviet athlete Boris Onischenko puts on his socks after he was disqualified because he had manipulated his sword in the fencing event, on July 19, 1976 during the Summer Olympic Games, in Montreal. AFP / EPU / IOPP PHOTO (Photo credit should read /AFP via Getty Images)

he was banned by the IOC for life registered a point in his favor without actually making contact

1988 Seoul Olympics: Ben Johnson DQ'd after world record 100m sprint

24 Sep 1988: Ben Johnson of Canada takes the lead in the 100 Metres semi final at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Mandatory Credit: Steve Powell/Allsport
24 Sep 1988: Ben Johnson of Canada takes the lead in the 100 Metres semi final at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Mandatory Credit: Steve Powell/Allsport

1988 Seoul Olympics: 3 Boxing judges suspended after Roy Jones Jr. bizarre loss

other robbed of a gold medal victory Associated Press

The International Olympic Committee in 1997 concluded it had found no evidence to support bribery allegations against the judges who voted in favor of Park in the Seoul Games. The U.S. Olympic Committee had called for an investigation in 1996 after documents belonging to East Germany’s Stasi secret police revealed reports of judges being paid to vote for South Korean boxers.

2000 Sydney Olympics: Marion Jones heads to jail

Marion Jones was sentenced in 2008 to six months in prison for perjury after lying about her steroid use. She was forced to return all five of her Olympic medals from the 2000 Sydney Games.
Marion Jones was sentenced in 2008 to six months in prison for perjury after lying about her steroid use. She was forced to return all five of her Olympic medals from the 2000 Sydney Games.

stripped of five medals

2000 Sydney Olympics: What's Dong Fangxiao's age again?

24 Sep 2000: Fangxiao Dong of China competes in the Final of the Womens Vault at the Sydney Superdome on Day Nine of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
24 Sep 2000: Fangxiao Dong of China competes in the Final of the Womens Vault at the Sydney Superdome on Day Nine of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport

Dong Fangxiao in 2000, as the Chinese star captured the bronze medal. Unfortunately, at 14 years old, she was actually competing two years under age and forced to return her medal after being discovered. 

2012 London: Top Badminton teams throw games

disqualified from the tournament for losing matches

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 7 brazen Summer Olympics cheating scandals beyond the Canada Soccer drone controversy