When Sports Aren't Sportsmanlike

Some sports moments are remembered not for breaking records, but for the drama they created. Cheating scandals and unexpected controversies have forever changed how we view the games and the athletes involved. Here’s a look at 20 of the most unforgettable moments in sports history.

Jeffrey Beall on Wikimedia

1. Pete Rose's Gambling Ends Baseball Career

Pete Rose's career ended abruptly after a gambling scandal rocked baseball. He placed bets on games while managing the Cincinnati Reds, breaking MLB rules. Despite his record-breaking hits, MLB banned him for life in 1989 to protect the sport's integrity.

Paula R. Lively from Zanesville, United States on Wikimedia

2. Tonya Harding Attacks Nancy Kerrigan 

Nancy Kerrigan’s knee attack before the 1994 Olympics stunned the figure skating world. Orchestrated by Tonya Harding’s ex-husband, the attack was meant to eliminate her fiercest competitor. While Kerrigan claimed Olympic silver, Harding ended up eighth and was permanently barred by the U.S. Figure Skating Association from competition.

Gianluca Platania, gianluca at Flickr, from Torino (Turin), Italy on Wikimedia

3. Malice At The Palace Brawl Involves Players And Fans

A basketball game turned into a brawl involving players and fans during the 2004 Pistons-Pacers match. Known as the Malice at the Palace, the fight led to heavy suspensions and the NBA tightening security at arenas, marking one of the most violent moments in sports history.

Kevin Ward from Eastpointe, U.S. on Wikimedia

4. Lance Armstrong's Doping Shattered His Cycling Legacy

Lance Armstrong's impressive seven Tour de France wins crumbled after doping allegations surfaced. Years of investigation revealed the systematic use of banned substances. When Armstrong admitted to doping in 2013, the cycling community faced one of its darkest scandals.

Hyku on Flickr on Wikimedia

5. Patriots' Deflategate Sparks Brady Suspension Debate

The Patriots' footballs were underinflated during the 2015 AFC Championship, sparking the Deflategate scandal. Tom Brady received a four-game suspension after his alleged role. The investigation that followed was named the Wells Report, which cost the NFL over $5 million and led to the Patriots being fined $1 million and losing two draft picks.

Bernard Gagnon on Wikimedia

6. Houston Astros Used Cameras To Steal Signs

In 2017, the Houston Astros won the World Series but faced backlash for stealing opponents' signs using cameras. MLB's investigation confirmed the cheating, resulting in suspensions and fines. The scandal raised tough questions about fairness in the era of high-tech sports.

Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA on Wikimedia

7. George Brett's Pine Tar Outburst Gets Overturned

In a 1983 Yankees-Royals game, Brett’s game-winning homer was erased when umpires ruled he had too much pine tar on his bat. In a famous outburst, he stormed out of the dugout in anger. The Royals protested—and won—leading MLB to restart the game weeks later.

Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia

8. Colin Kaepernick Kneels Against Racial Injustice

Colin Kaepernick’s choice to kneel during the U.S. anthem at a 2016 NFL game sparked a nationwide debate. His peaceful protest against racial injustice divided fans and players alike. While Kaepernick’s career stalled afterward, his actions became a landmark moment in sports activism.

Mike Morbeck on Wikimedia

9. NBA Referee Tim Donaghy Bet On Games He Officiated

NBA referee Tim Donaghy shocked fans by betting on games he officiated. Caught in 2007, his conviction revealed game manipulation and cast doubt on the league's fairness. Although Donaghy claimed widespread corruption, no other officials were charged.

Tim Donaghy on Wikimedia

10. Saints Bountygate Pays Players For Big Hits

Long before player safety took center stage, the Saints ignored player safety rules. Between 2009 and 2011, defensive players allegedly received bonuses for injuring opponents. When the NFL uncovered it in 2012, Head Coach Sean Payton got a full-season suspension.

All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA on Wikimedia

11. Maria Sharapova's Failed Drug Test

After a routine drug test in 2016, tennis star Maria Sharapova revealed she'd tested positive for meldonium. It had just been banned months earlier. Her suspension shook fans and critics alike, especially since she'd dominated the sport and maintained a squeaky-clean image for years.

Tourism Victoria from Australia on Wikimedia

12. Muralitharan's Action Sparks Global Debate On Bowling

In the 1990s, umpires called Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling illegal. Some speculated that jealousy from rivals like Shane Warne played a role in the scrutiny. Biomechanical tests later proved his unique arm structure. The controversy helped redefine cricket's rules on elbow flex.

Ajithjaya on Wikimedia

13. Olympic Judges Caught in Skating Scandal

At the 2002 Winter Olympics, pairs figure skating faced chaos when Canadian skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier were denied gold. A French judge later admitted to being pressured to favor the Russian pair. The scandal deepened when allegations surfaced of Russian mob involvement.

Connor Mah on Wikimedia

14. Car Ride Disqualifies Marathon Leader

During the 1904 Olympic marathon in St. Louis, runner Fred Lorz crossed the finish line first—until it was revealed he had ridden a car for 11 miles. The heat and poor race conditions added to the chaos. Officials disqualified him, prompting tighter scrutiny in future endurance events.

Nesnad on Wikimedia

15. Novak Djokovic's COVID Meltdown In 2022

Serbia's tennis champ, Novak Djokovic, kicked off a diplomatic mess when he refused to get vaccinated before the Australian Open. Detained and ultimately deported, his stance ignited global debates over public health and sportsmanship in high-stakes competitions.

Andymiah on Wikimedia

16. The Ime Udoka Celtics Suspension

In 2022, Celtics head coach Ime Udoka was suspended for violating team policies regarding a consensual relationship with a staff member. The incident threw the NBA off guard. Boston's playoff-bound momentum hit a wall as details slowly trickled out to the public.

Boston Celtics on Wikimedia

17. Rachael Ostovich And Greg Hardy UFC Booking

UFC drew fire in 2019 for booking Greg Hardy—previously convicted in a domestic violence case—on the same card as Rachael Ostovich, a fighter and domestic abuse survivor. Fans and fighters questioned the optics, and UFC President Dana White's decision to do so made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

MMAnytt on Wikimedia

18. Chinese Gymnasts Age Controversy

Questions swirled during the 2008 Beijing Olympics when several Chinese female gymnasts appeared younger than the minimum age of 16. Investigations followed after reports and documents suggested falsified birth records. However, the IOC denied the allegations.

Tksteven on Wikimedia

19. Ryan Lochte's Olympic Gas Station Lie

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, swimmer Ryan Lochte claimed he'd been robbed at gunpoint. It turns out he had vandalized a gas station and lied to cover it. His tale didn't just go viral—it embarrassed Team USA and cost him multiple sponsors.

JD Lasica from Pleasanton, CA, US on Wikimedia

20. Mike Tyson Bites Holyfield's Ear

The 1997 rematch between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield turned bizarre when Tyson bit a piece of Holyfield's ear off in the third round. Disqualified on the spot, he lost his boxing license and faced public outrage, marking one of the most infamous moments in sports history.

Thesun.co on Wikimedia