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The Worst Professional Sport Scandals Ever

Created by: infozooms | Last Updated: 07/25/2010

Here are the stories behind some of the worst sport scandals in the last few decades that marred the careers of highly talented individuals. Which one do you think should top the list?

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1. The OJ Simpson Trials

OJ Simpson was a prominent NFL player in the 1970’s, a Heisman Trophy winner, and the first running back to rush more than 2,000 yards in a single season. He became a member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1973. After retiring from football he became a football analyst, an actor, and later a commercial spokesman. His reputation was later destroyed when he was arrested in 1994 for murdering his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. This was an enormous sport scandal and he and a co-defendant were also found guilty on multiple felony charges as armed robbery and kidnapping. Simpson may have to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

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Points: 9

2. Mike Tyson Rape Conviction

Tyson was a heavyweight champion and currently is the youngest man to win the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles. He was the first boxing champion to hold all three titles at the same time. He was best known for being intimidating and ferocious while fighting in the ring. Tyson was also reputable for his controversial behavior that he exhibited whether he was fighting or not. He became the center for controversies throughout his career. In 1992 he was convicted for raping Desiree Washington in an Indianapolis hotel room the year before. Tyson was then served a six year prison sentence but after three years was released and continued on with his career.

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Points: 8

3. Tour de France Doping Allegations

The Tour de France bike tournament covers approximately 3,500 kilometers or 2,200 miles in France and neighboring countries. Since the late 1900’s numerous participants have been found using steroids, amphetamines, cocaine, and a wide array of other stimulating drugs. In 1999 a doping controversy has surrounded Lance Armstrong, a seven time winner, although sufficient evidence to support this sport scandal and penalize him has never been produced. Floyd Landis, the 2006 winner, tested positive in July of that year for an 11:1 ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone in his blood, indicating he had been doping. The normal ratio is 4:1. There are hundreds of stories of men testing positive for high amounts of drugs substances in their bodies. Most claim that without the use of some type of drug, competing in the race would be impossible.

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Points: 6

4. Kobe Bryant Sexual Assault Case

The NBA superstar was accused by a 19 year-old hotel employee, Katelyn Fabre of raping her in his hotel room on July 1st, 2003. It happened at the Lodge and Spa of Cordillera in Colorado where Bryant stayed while he was scheduled to have surgery on July 2nd. She gave him a tour of the hotel then they went into his room and started kissing and had oral sex. That stopped when he asked her for a lewd sexual favor. Bryant admitted his sexual encounter with Fabre, but denied that he sexually assaulted her. Fabre refused to testify in court and the case was dropped. This sports scandal ended with a civil suit that was settled out of court.

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Points: 5

5. Pete Rose’s Gambling Addiction

Pete Rose is one of the greatest professional baseball players of all time. He began playing for the Cincinnati Reds in 1963 and has become team manager. Rose achieved some great stats during his 24 year career as a batting average of .303, a record-setting 4,256 hits, and a 44 game hitting streak in 1978. He made three appearances in the World Series and was almost guaranteed a spot in the Hall of Fame until 1989 when he was accused of betting on baseball. Rose admitted to a gambling addiction and that he wagered many times a week while managing the Reds team. He then accepted a ban from baseball, but up to 2004 he denied his gambling on every opportunity he had, hoping after 18 years of exile he would be reinstated.

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Points: 3

6. Tim Donaghy Wagers

Donaghy, a former NBA referee, has placed tens of thousands of dollars on bets of games he officiated. During many of these games he admits he made calls that affected their final score so he could manipulate the point spread and win his wagers. He has also been approached by lower level mob associates to help create gambling schemes. In defense Donaghy claims that other NBA referees and league members sometimes ordered officials to extend playoff series to help increase TV ratings and ticket sales.

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Points: 1

7. Tonya Harding Attacks Nancy Kerrigan

A pre-meditated sport scandal was the Tonya Harding case. In attempt to win the 1994 US Figure Skating Championship Tonya Harding created a plan to hurt Nancy Kerrigan, her competitor, by striking her on the knee. Shane Stant was hired by Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly and Shawn Eckhardt to strike Kerrigan in the knee. The resulting injury forced Kerrigan to withdraw enabling Harding to win. After admitting covering up for the attack Harding was removed from the 1994 Olympics team, but Harding retained her place after threatening legal action. After the investigation on June 30, 1994 the USFA took away Harding’s title and banned her from competing in any future USFA-run events.

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Points: 0

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