For as long as sports have existed, so have those willing to bend or break the rules to gain an unfair advantage. From ancient competitions to modern professional leagues, cheating has taken many forms—some more shocking than others.
Whether driven by money, fame, or the pressure to win at all costs, athletes and organizations alike have found ways to manipulate the system in pursuit of victory.
10. Boxing Bribery (338 BC)
Evidence for cheating in sports can be found in ancient Greece. One incident that stands out is an accusation of bribery in boxing at the 98th Olympics in 388 B.C. Allegedly, Eupolus of Thessaly bribed all three of his opponents to secure his win. The organizers imposed “heavy fines” on all four men.
9. Olympic Marathon Scandal (1904)
In 1904, the summer games were held in St. Louis, Missouri. The marathon has been described as “the most bizarre spectacle in Olympic history.” There were four strange incidents involving runners. The apparent winner, American Fred Lorz, hitched a ride in a car for 11 miles. He was confronted and admitted to cheating before he could be awarded a medal.
8. White Sox Scandal (1919)
The first bombshell scandal in major league baseball occurred when the Chicago White Sox took money from professional gamblers to throw the World Series. Eight players were implicated and indicted by a grand jury. They were all acquitted in the criminal trial, but baseball’s commissioner permanently banned them from participating in organized baseball.
7. Point-Shaving Scheme (1951)
A group of college basketball players, starters from City College of New York, accepted money from bookmakers to manipulate the scores of games. However, the scandal became more widespread. The point-shaving eventually involved 32 players from seven colleges. At least ten of the fixers, agents, or bookies served jail time.
6. “Hand of God” Goal (1986)
Diego Maradona’s goal in the 1986 World Cup led Argentina to a 2-1 win over England in the quarterfinals. Maradona claimed the “hand of God” knocked the ball into the net rather than his own. In his autobiography, Maradona confessed fourteen years later, writing: “What hand of God? It was the hand of Diego!”
5. Figure Skating Attack (1994)
Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked with a baton. The injury knocked her out of the national championships. The culprit, Shane Stant, was hired by the ex-husband of skater Tonya Harding, Kerrigan’s main rival. The hope was to prevent Kerrigan from winning the national championships and Winter Olympics. Kerrigan recovered and won silver at the Olympics. Harding placed eighth.
4. Paralympics Faked Disabilities (2000)
Spain’s intellectual disability basketball team won gold in Sydney. However, it was later found that 10 of the 12 players had faked their disabilities. The scandal led Paralympic organizers to suspend the intellectual disability classification at each of the next two Games, leaving legitimate intellectually disabled athletes on the sidelines for eight years.
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3. MLB Steroid Scandal (1995-2005)
Major league baseball saw the biggest doping scandal in the history of any sport. This “peak” included the 1998 home run record chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. But the effects stretched beyond the above timeline. Dozens of big-name players were ultimately implicated, including McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro. Congress forced MLB to overhaul its drug-testing policies.
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2. NFL Deflategate (2015)
One of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks ever, Tom Brady, then of the New England Patriots, was at the center of this scandal. Brady was accused of asking staff to underinflate footballs in the AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts, which the Patriots won. Brady received a four-game suspension.
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1. Houston Astros Scandal (2019)
Players trying to pick up signs between the pitcher and catcher have always been a part of baseball. However, the Houston Astros took it to the next level by using a camera in centerfield to zoom in on the opposing catcher. Then, they would bang a trashcan to signal a breaking ball coming. Several firings, suspensions, and fines resulted.
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