18 of the biggest scandals in Olympic history

Erin McDowell,Mykenna ManieceAug 13, 2024, 20:45 IST

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's sex was the subject of intense scrutiny throughout the Games.Richard Pelham/Stringer/Getty Images

Olympic athletes throughout history have not been immune to controversy and scandals.
In 2000, China's bronze medal was revoked after it emerged that a gymnast was only 14.

The Olympics and its athletes have been the subject of many infamous scandals and controversies over the years — Tonya Harding and Ryan Lochte may come to mind.

The 2024 Olympics in Paris were no exception, as athletes dealt with online scrutiny and judging errors while National Olympic Committees and coaches faced cheating allegations. And, of course, who could forget about all the drama with pollution in the Seine.

Here's a look back at some of the Olympic Games' biggest controversies and updates on those that continue to unfold.

During the 1998 Winter Olympics, French ice skater Surya Bonaly pulled off an illegal yet impressive backflip on the ice that cost her points.

Surya Bonaly skating in 1999.Dimitri Iundt/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

Ice skater Tonya Harding was banned from the sport after her ex-husband planned an attack on her competitor, Nancy Kerrigan, in an effort to crush Kerrigan's Olympic dreams.

Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan.AP Photo/Phil Sandlin, File

Ice skater Tonya Harding was banned from the sport after her ex-husband planned an attack on her competitor, Nancy Kerrigan, in an effort to crush Kerrigan's Olympic dreams.

At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the artistic gymnastics vault was 2 inches shorter than it was supposed to be, throwing many athletes off their game.

A gymnast at the 2000 Olympics using the vault.Gunnar Berning/Bongarts/Getty Images

Also that year, it was discovered that Chinese gymnast Dong Fangxiao had lied about her age, breaking the rules.

Dong Fangxiao of China competes in the final of the Women's Vault at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport/Getty Images

Questions over Chinese gymnasts' ages were raised again in 2008.

He Kexin at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.Al Bello/Getty Images

Team USA track athlete Marion Jones was stripped of her five Olympic medals, including three gold, after admitting to using steroids to prepare for the competition.

Marion Jones.Getty Images

More than 100 athletes from Russia were banned from the 2016 Games in Rio due to widespread doping allegations.

Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov holds a press conference to discuss Russian athlete doping allegations.ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images

US swimmers Ryan Lochte, Jimmy Feigen, Gunnar Bentz, and Jack Conger were embroiled in scandal after vandalizing a gas station in Rio and claiming to have been mugged at gunpoint.

Ryan Lochte was one of four swimmers involved in a scandal during the 2016 Olympics in Rio.Matt Hazlett/Stringer/Getty Images

US swimmers Ryan Lochte, Jimmy Feigen, Gunnar Bentz, and Jack Conger were embroiled in scandal after vandalizing a gas station in Rio and claiming to have been mugged at gunpoint.

Ahead of the 2020 Olympics, the Olympic committee sparked outrage after banning swim caps designed specifically for natural hair.

Swimming caps for natural hair on display.Kristin Palitza/picture alliance/Getty Images

Sha'Carri Richardson was excluded from the USA track-and-field Olympics roster after she received a positive drug test result for using marijuana.

Sha'Carri Richardson reacts after competing in the Women's 100 Meter Semi-finals on June 19, 2021, in Eugene, Oregon.Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Horseback riding was eliminated from the modern pentathlon after a horse-punching incident at the Tokyo Olympics.

Germany’s Annika Schleu and horse, Saint Boy, at the Tokyo Olympics.Getty/Marijan Murat

Kamila Valieva's eligibility to compete in the 2022 Winter Olympics was called into question after the then-15-year-old skater failed a drug test.

Valieva's Olympic eligibility was questioned after she failed a drug test.Getty/Annice Lyn

Six-time dressage Olympic medalist Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain was barred from the Paris Olympics after a video reportedly showed her whipping a horse.

Dujardin was suspended from Olympic competition after video of her whipping a horse's legs during training surfaced.Dan Istitene/Staff/Getty Images

Canadian women's soccer head coach Beverly "Bev" Priestman was removed from the 2024 Olympics amid a cheating scandal.

Canada's Women's National Team Head Coach Beverly "Bev" Priestman was removed from the Olympics.Omar Vega/Contributor/Getty Images

Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles will be forced to return her bronze medal from the floor exercise final following a new ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Jordan Chiles will have to return her bronze medal after ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's sex became the subject of intense scrutiny at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's sex was the subject of intense scrutiny throughout the Games.Richard Pelham/Stringer/Getty Images

Eleven swimmers on China's 2024 Olympic swimming team were named in a doping scandal from 2021.

Wang Shun was one of 11 Chinese swimmers involved in a 2021 doping scandal who competed in the 2024 Olympics.Maddie Meyer/Staff/Getty Images

Paris Olympians finally swam in the Seine after continued concern over its pollution levels.

The cleanliness and safety of Seine was debated throughout the Games.DIMITAR DILKOFF/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The 10 most iconic moments in USWNT Olympic history

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

18 of the biggest scandals in Olympic history

During the 1998 Winter Olympics, French ice skater Surya Bonaly pulled off an illegal yet impressive backflip on the ice that cost her points.

Ice skater Tonya Harding was banned from the sport after her ex-husband planned an attack on her competitor, Nancy Kerrigan, in an effort to crush Kerrigan's Olympic dreams.

At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the artistic gymnastics vault was 2 inches shorter than it was supposed to be, throwing many athletes off their game.

Also that year, it was discovered that Chinese gymnast Dong Fangxiao had lied about her age, breaking the rules.

Questions over Chinese gymnasts' ages were raised again in 2008.

Team USA track athlete Marion Jones was stripped of her five Olympic medals, including three gold, after admitting to using steroids to prepare for the competition.

More than 100 athletes from Russia were banned from the 2016 Games in Rio due to widespread doping allegations.

US swimmers Ryan Lochte, Jimmy Feigen, Gunnar Bentz, and Jack Conger were embroiled in scandal after vandalizing a gas station in Rio and claiming to have been mugged at gunpoint.

Ahead of the 2020 Olympics, the Olympic committee sparked outrage after banning swim caps designed specifically for natural hair.

Sha'Carri Richardson was excluded from the USA track-and-field Olympics roster after she received a positive drug test result for using marijuana.

Horseback riding was eliminated from the modern pentathlon after a horse-punching incident at the Tokyo Olympics.

Kamila Valieva's eligibility to compete in the 2022 Winter Olympics was called into question after the then-15-year-old skater failed a drug test.

Six-time dressage Olympic medalist Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain was barred from the Paris Olympics after a video reportedly showed her whipping a horse.

Canadian women's soccer head coach Beverly "Bev" Priestman was removed from the 2024 Olympics amid a cheating scandal.

Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles will be forced to return her bronze medal from the floor exercise final following a new ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's sex became the subject of intense scrutiny at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Eleven swimmers on China's 2024 Olympic swimming team were named in a doping scandal from 2021.

Paris Olympians finally swam in the Seine after continued concern over its pollution levels.