The 10 Biggest Sporting Scandals of All Time

August 18, 2025 Aksel Kryhlmand

Sport is often celebrated for its passion, perseverance, and moments of pure magic. But behind the scenes, there’s a darker narrative, one of deceit, corruption, and betrayal. From rigged matches and drug-fueled victories to outright criminality, the sporting world has endured its fair share of disgrace. In the wake of fresh allegations surrounding Russian doping, we take a look back at some of the most notorious scandals in sporting history. These jaw-dropping moments didn’t just make headlines, they changed the way we view the games we love.

10. Ball Tampering Chaos, 2006

Inzamam-ul-Haq — paddynapper, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cricket was thrown into disarray during the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval when umpires accused Pakistan of tampering with the ball. After play was abandoned, skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq faced charges of bringing the game into disrepute. It marked a turning point in how the sport addressed issues of fair play and on-field conduct.

9. Maradona's 'Hand of God', 1986

Maradona hand of god — El Gráfico, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

One of football’s most infamous moments saw Argentina’s Diego Maradona punch the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final. The goal stood, sending England home and Argentina toward eventual victory. Maradona later admitted the act was guided by the “Hand of God,” forever etching it into football folklore.

8. Italian Football’s Match-Fixing Bombshell, 2006

Juventus - Serie A — Poetra.RH / Shutterstock.com

Known as ‘Calciopoli,’ intercepted phone calls in 2006 exposed a widespread network of match manipulation involving several Serie A clubs. Juventus suffered the most, stripped of titles and relegated two tiers. Other clubs faced fines, points deductions, and suspensions, shaking Italian football to its core.

7. Ben Johnson’s Olympic Disgrace, 1988

Ben Johnson - Sprinter — Mafugah, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Canada’s Ben Johnson won Olympic gold in the 100m sprint in Seoul with a record-breaking 9.79 seconds, only to be stripped of both the medal and the record two days later after testing positive for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol. His fall from grace cast a long shadow over athletics.

6. Paralympic Basketball Fraud, 2000

paralympic basketball 2000 spain — Wikimedia Commons

Spain’s Paralympic basketball team stunned the world at the Sydney Games when it was revealed that 10 of the 12 players had no intellectual disability. After an investigation, their medals were rescinded, and team official Fernando Martin Vicente was fined and ordered to repay fraudulent government subsidies.

5. Harding v Kerrigan, 1994

In a scheme straight out of a crime drama, figure skater Tonya Harding conspired to have rival Nancy Kerrigan attacked before the 1994 US National Championships. A hired thug struck Kerrigan in the knee, clearing Harding’s path to victory, at least temporarily. The scandal exploded, and Harding’s reputation was left in tatters.

4. Hansie Cronje’s Fall, 2000

South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje was caught in a match-fixing scandal when Indian police intercepted phone calls between him and a bookie. He was banned for life, and the revelations rocked the cricketing world. Three teammates were also implicated, though not all were punished as severely.

3. Bloodgate, 2009

Bloodgate scandal (Tom Williams) — Instagram: skysports

In a bizarre episode of rugby trickery, Harlequins winger Tom Williams bit into a fake blood capsule to feign injury, allowing a key substitution during a Heineken Cup match. The plan backfired, and the fallout led to a one-year ban for Williams (later reduced), and a three-year ban for director of rugby Dean Richards.

2. Lance Armstrong’s Doping Empire, 2012

Lance Armstrong and Oprah — George Burns/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

Once seen as a symbol of endurance and recovery, Lance Armstrong’s legacy unraveled when the US Anti-Doping Agency stripped him of all seven Tour de France titles. A systematic doping regime involving EPO, steroids, and blood transfusions was uncovered. In a now-famous interview with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong confessed it all.

1. The 'Black Sox' Scandal, 1919

Black Sox Scandal (1919) Chicago White Sox — Granger/Shutterstock/Ritzau Scanpix

In what is still considered one of the darkest moments in baseball, eight Chicago White Sox players were banned for life for intentionally losing games during the 1919 World Series in exchange for money from gamblers. The event became known as the “Black Sox” scandal and changed the face of professional sports forever.