As the world gears up for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, GQ Australia has compiled a list of the biggest scandals that have plagued the games throughout history. From doping scandals to boycotts, the Olympics have seen their fair share of controversies over the years.
One of the most notorious scandals in Olympic history was the 1912 Stockholm games, where American athlete Jim Thorpe was stripped of his gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon after it was revealed that he had violated amateurism rules by playing professional baseball. Thorpe’s medals were eventually reinstated posthumously in 1982, but the scandal remains a dark mark on the history of the games.
Another scandal that rocked the Olympics was the 1980 Moscow games, where the United States led a boycott of the event in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Over 60 countries joined the boycott, leading to a significant decrease in the number of participating nations and casting a shadow over the games.
More recently, the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics were marred by a doping scandal involving Russian athletes. The country was accused of running a state-sponsored doping program, leading to the banning of several athletes from competing in the games.
As the Tokyo 2020 Olympics approach, the specter of scandal looms large over the event. Will we witness another doping scandal? Will there be controversy over the treatment of athletes? Only time will tell. But one thing is for certain – the Olympics have a history of drama and controversy that rivals even the most sensational Hollywood script.
Source
Photo credit www.gq.com.au