Shocking scandals and controversies that rocked the world of Olympics

After facing a series of postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics is finally happening—from July 23 to Aug. 8.

But even before the much-anticipated event begins, the Olympics has already been hounded by a few controversies, including the resignation of Olympic Committee president Yoshiro Mori after making sexist remarks.

Another one is the most recent issue about a hotel that reportedly made a “Japanese only” and “foreigners only” elevator signs ahead of the games, which were seen as discriminatory, “racist” and “xenophobic.”

There is also American track and field sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson who tested positive for cannabis and was slapped with a one-month suspension, which will make her miss the Olympics.

As the quadrennial event is upon us, let as take a look back at the scandals and controversies that rocked the Olympics.

Figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan feud, 1994

The rivalry between the two star figure skaters went as far as injuring one and another banned for life from the sport.

Nancy Kerrigan, a top American skater, was poised to snatch a gold medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Norway. One month before the competition, she was attacked with a “club-like instrument” after practice, which put her at risk of missing the Olympics.

It was later on discovered that it was the ex-husband of her fierce rival, Tonya Harding, who plotted the attack.

Kerrigan made a full recovery and competed together with Harding at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Norway, where the former won a silver medal, while the latter placed eighth. 

Harding pled guilty to not cooperating with and informing the authorities that she knew about the plan to hurt Kerrigan. Because of this, she was banned for life from US Figure Skating Association.

The controversy is considered as one of the biggest scandals in sports history. It also spawned a film I, Tonya told from Harding’s perspective of the events.

Gymnast Dong Fangxiao falsified age, 2000

Chinese gymnast Dong Fangxiao was listed as 17 years old when she competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where she won a bronze medal.

A decade after the games, she was stripped of her medal following an investigation by the International Gymnastics Federation that she was actually underaged when she competed. All contestants must be at least 16 years old to be eligible to compete.

The results of her performance at the Olympics and other succeeding games were also revoked.

Greek sprinters quit after faking a motorcycle crash to avoid doping test, 2004

Even before the 2004 Athens Olympics started, sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou had to quit after they were found to have faked a motorcycle accident to evade a mandatory drug test.

Both athletes were once considered heroes in sports, with Kenteris being the host country’s best bet to bring the gold medal.

Kenteris and Thanou were given suspended jail sentences of 31 months after being charged after the crash, according to the New York Times. But in 2011, an Athens appeals court acquitted the athletes from their wrongdoing.

Track star Marion Jones stripped of five Olympic medals after she admits to doping, 2007

American track athlete Marion Jones became the first woman to win five track-and-field medals at a single Olympics—three gold and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

It was in 2007 when she admitted to using steroids to prepare for the games. According to a Washington Post report, Jones had been using steroids for two years, starting in 1999.