In 1908, American John Carpenter was disqualified in the 400m race for impeding a British competitor.
The pinnacle of world sports, the Olympic Games haven’t been without their share of controversy. From judging disputes to political tensions, these events have cast a shadow over the supposed spirit of the Games. It must be noted that list is incredibly lengthy and therefore, we have zeroed in only on a few controversies.
The early 20th century saw a couple of controversies rooted in judging decisions. In 1908, American John Carpenter was disqualified in the 400m race for impeding a British competitor. A second race was held, but the other finalists boycotted in protest, leaving Wyndham Halswelle of Great Britain the sole competitor and winner in an unusual walkover victory.
Further controversy arose in 1912 when Jim Thorpe, a Native American athlete, was stripped of his gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon for playing semi-professional baseball before the Olympics, violating the amateurism rules of the time. Though medals were later restored to his family decades later, the incident remains a stain on Olympic history.
In 1912 Jim Thorpe, a Native American athlete, was stripped of his gold medals // Picture Courtesy — New York Times
The 1930s saw political tensions intrude on the Olympics. Finnish runner PaavoNurmi, a nine-time gold medalist, was controversially disqualified from competing in the 1932 Los Angeles Games due to questions about his amateur status.This decision by Swedish authorities forced Nurmi’s retirement, leaving many fans disappointed.
Finnish runner PaavoNurmi, a nine-time gold medalist, was controversially disqualified from competing in the 1932 Los Angeles Games. // Picture Courtesy — Wikimedia
Cuban taekwondo athlete Angel Matos faced a lifetime ban from international competition after a shocking outburst at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The incident unfolded during the men’s over-80kg bronze medal match.
Matos, a former Olympic gold medalist from 2000, appeared to be in control, leading 3–2 in the second round. However, things took a turn when he took a hard hit from his Kazakh opponent, Arman Chilmanov. Matos went down, requiring medical attention. While he received treatment, the clock ticked down on the allotted one minute for injury time.
When the timer expired, the referee, Chakir Chelbat of Sweden, disqualified Matos for exceeding the allotted time. Enraged by the decision, Matos launched into a series of aggressive actions. He first argued vehemently with the referee, then escalated by pushing a judge. The situation reached a boiling point when Matos lashed out with a kick, connecting directly with Chelbat’s face.
In the last Olympics i.e., Tokyo Olympics 2020, Algerian judokaFethi Nourine withdrew from the event when he was put against opponent Tohar Butbul who was from Israel. The International Judo Federation (IJF) handed an immediate suspension to Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef. The two individuals’ accredition were revoked by the Algerian Olympic Committee and a 10-year ban was handed over to them.
