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12 Famous Athlete Cheating Scandals
From Lance Armstrong's doping scandal to the Soccer Canada drone controversy, here are 12 times athletes were caught cheating.
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Former American professional road cyclist Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times from 1999 to 2005.
Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong rides down the Champs Elysees with an American flag after the 21st and final stage of the cycling race in Paris, July 23, 2000. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours)
Lance Armstrong reacts as he crosses the finish line to win the ninth stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday, July 13, 1999. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
Lance Armstrong, carries the Stars and Stripes during a victory parade on the Champs Elysees after winning his seventh straight Tour de France cycling race in Paris, on July 24, 2005. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong/File)
Cuban-American Rosie Ruiz set a record in 1980 after she crossed the Boston Marathon finish line with a time of 2 hours 31 minutes 56 seconds.
Rosie Ruiz waves to the crowd after after being announced as winner of the women's division of the Boston Marathon in Boston, April 21, 1980. (AP Photo/File)
Rosie Ruiz speaks during a news conference in New York, April 24, 1980 (AP Photo/David Karp)
1980 winner of the Boston Marathon women's division, Jacqueline Gareau, crosses a ceremonial finish line in Boston Monday, April 18, 2005. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Canadian-Jamaican sprinter Ben Johnson competed twice for Canada in the Olympics: 1984 in Los Angeles and 1988 in Seoul.
Johnson won a bronze medal in 1984 in the 100-metre race. He then won the 1988 100-metre final in a time of 9.79 seconds.
Ben Johnson of Canada leads the pack as they churn to the finish of the Olympics 100-meter final, Sept. 24, 1988, in Seoul. (AP Photo/Herbert Knosowski)
Sprinter Ben Johnson examines a bottle of steroids during the federal inquiry into drug use in amateur sports in Toronto on June 23, 1989. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Hans Deryk)
, Ben Johnson, left, signals victory ahead of the United States' Carl Lewis, as he wins the 100-meter final at the Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, Sept. 25, 1988. (AP Photo/Rick Wilking, File)
In 2015, NFL legend Tom Brady and the New England patriots were accused of delating balls.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of the NFL football AFC Championship game in Foxborough, Mass, Jan. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Brady was found to be "at least generally aware" of the scheme.
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, right, talks to quarterback Tom Brady during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Foxborough, Mass, Nov. 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, left, and quarterback Tom Brady cross paths during a news conference before NFL football practice in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Tonya Harding was a decorated American figure skater who won gold at the 1991 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and silver at the World Championships.
Figure skater Tonya Harding of Portland, Ore., skates in the free skating portion of the women's figure skating competition at the XVI Olympic Games in Albertville, France, Feb. 21, 1992. (AP Photo/John Gaps)
Tonya Harding, left, and Nancy Kerrigan at the 1992 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 12, 1992. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin) (PHIL SANDLIN/The Associated Press)
American skaters (L to R) Tonya Harding, silver; Kristi Yamaguchi, gold; and Nancy Kerrigan, bronze, display their medals after the finals of the World Figure Skating Championships in Munich, March 12, 1991. (AP Photo/Diether Endlicher)
Harding was banned from competitive figure skating for life.
American figure skaters Nancy Kerrigan, left, and Tonya Harding work out during an Olympic practice session at Hamar Olympic Amphitheater in Hamar, Norway, Feb. 22, 1994. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)
One of the most famous cheating scandals in the Paralympics came from Spain’s men’s basketball team at the 2000 Sydney Games.
For the first time, the Paralympics held a basketball tournament for those with intellectual disabilities. The Spanish team crushed all its opponents and took home the championships.
Players and coaching staff of the Spanish intellectual disability basketball team celebrate their victory at the Paralympics Games in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, October 24, 2000. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
The Olympic Rings glow on the Sydney Harbour Bridge the day before the opening of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Sept. 14, 2000. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
The Houston Astros were found guilty of sign stealing with the use of technology, a tactic that led them to win the 2017 World Series.
The Houston Astros celebrate after their win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of baseball's World Series Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Houston Astros celebrate after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
A Boston Red Sox fan holds a sign up during the second inning in Game 3 of baseball's American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros in Boston, Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Marion Jones was an American track and field star, who won gold medals in the 100 metres and 4x100 metres relay at the 1997 World Championships.
Marion Jones of the United States, center, celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the women's 100 meters at Olympic Park, during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney Sept. 23, 2000. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)
Marion Jones holds up her five Olympic medals for track and field events in Sydney, Australia, Oct. 1, 2000. (AP Photo/Adam Butler)
In 2007, the IOC removed all her Olympic medals and vacated all her performances.
The three-time Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones cries as she addresses the media during a news conference outside the federal courthouse, Oct. 5, 2007, in White Plains, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
In 1919, members of the Chicago White Sox accepted money from gamblers to throw their World Series game.
The Cincinnati Reds beat the heavily favored Chicago White Sox five games to three.
Team photograph of the Chicago White Sox, the team that was involved in the Chicago Black Sox scandal. (Bettmann Archive)
Black Sox scandal documents, letters and memos are displayed on the desk at Mastro Auctions, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007 in Burr Ridge, Ill. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, rear left, is seen during the investigation of the infamous "Black Sox" scandal in Chicago. White Sox players shown are Charles "Swede" Risberg, center left, and Arnold "Chick" Gandil, next to Risberg. Others are unidentified. (AP Photo/File)
In 2010, China was stripped of a bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics for fielding an underage gymnast, with the women's team medal going to the United States instead.
Members of China's gymnastics team, from left, Yang Yilin, Li Shanshan, He Kexin, Jiang Yuyuan and Deng Linlin listen to their national anthem after winning the gold medal in the women's team final competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Aug. 13, 2008 (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Fangxiao Dong of China competes in the Final of the Womens Vault at the Sydney Superdome on Day Nine of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, Sept. 24, 2000. (Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport)
Chinese gymnasts Yang Yun, left, and Dong Fangxiao wave flowers after receiving the bronze medal in the women's gymnastic team finals at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Sept. 19, 2000. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
One of the most controversial goals in World Cup history, the ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986, came when Diego Maradona punched the ball into England's net during the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals.
Argentina's Diego Maradona, left, beats England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to a high ball and scores his first of two goals in a World Cup quarterfinal soccer match, in Mexico City, June 22, 1986. (AP Photo/El Grafico, Buenos Aires)
Maradona himself gave conflicting accounts of what had happened over the years, at one point attributing the goal to divine intervention, to “the hand of God.”
An Argentine fan wearing a Maradona mask holds a stuffed glove reading in Spanish "The hand of God" prior to the World Cup group B soccer match between Argentina and Nigeria at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, June 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Diego Maradona holds up the trophy after Argentina defeated West Germany 3-2 during a World Cup soccer final match at Atzeca Stadium in Mexico City, June 29, 1986 (AP Photo/Carlo Fumagalli)
Canada's appearance at the 2024 Summer Olympics was marred by the discovery that Canadian Soccer Association staff used a drone to spy on the New Zealand women's national football team
Members of Canada's women's soccer team train at Stade Auguste Dury in Saint-Etienne, France on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Greg Strong)
Lombardi was also given an eight-month suspended prison sentence in accordance with French drone operating laws.
Coach Bev Priestman of Canada takes photos on the pitch at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Saint-Etienne, France. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Silvia Izquierdo)
New Zealand's Katie Kitching, left, and Canada's Jade Rose vie for the ball during the women's Group A soccer match between Canada and New Zealand at Geoffroy-Guichard stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Saint-Etienne, France. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Silvia Izquierdo)