Buzz
For centuries, individuals have sought shortcuts to achieve fame in sports without putting in the necessary effort, a tendency that has led to countless controversies. Sports have been a beloved pastime for millennia, and competitors have consistently looked for easier routes to triumph. While many cheating methods have been exposed and are well-known to officials, some schemes are far more intricate. Over time, some shocking and bizarre cheating tactics have emerged that continue to astonish people to this day.
10. Abortion Doping
Abortion doping stands as one of the most unsettling and largely forgotten practices allegedly employed by East German sports authorities to prepare female athletes for the Olympics. The technique has sparked significant debate since rumors of its existence first arose. While some dismiss it as a grim urban myth, others insist it was a genuine and horrifying strategy used during that era.
Female athletes from East Germany endured harsh treatment in the pursuit of sporting success. Coaches employed extreme measures, often jeopardizing the athletes' health, to secure victories. Steroids were administered without consent, but the most shocking alleged practice was abortion doping. To this day, it remains unclear whether abortion doping was ever actually used to enhance performance, though it was acknowledged by the Olympics in 1988. The theory suggested that the hormonal and physical changes from pregnancy could benefit female athletes, even if the pregnancy was terminated. Prince Alexandre de Merode of Belgium, former vice president of the International Olympic Committee, was the only official to publicly discuss abortion doping. He claimed knowledge of Eastern European athletes who were artificially inseminated and later had their pregnancies terminated after a few months to boost athletic performance.
The rumors surrounding abortion doping may have emerged due to the widespread issues caused by steroids in the 1970s and 1980s. Female athletes were given anabolic steroids, which led to masculine traits and severe health complications. Many babies were born with defects, and some athletes experienced miscarriages as a result of steroid use. Whether or not abortion doping was real, the extreme measures taken by athletes and coaches in the name of victory are deeply unsettling.
9. Boris Onischenko’s Enchanted Epee
Similar to East Germany, the Soviet Union was notorious for going to great lengths to secure gold medals. Their methods were often intricate, as demonstrated by Boris Onischenko. Onischenko was a world-renowned athlete, a three-time pentathlon champion, and a key member of the Soviet pentathlon team. However, a scandal in 1976 would tarnish his legacy forever.
At 38, Boris Onischenko was considered an older competitor during the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Despite his age, he dominated the fencing events, leaving his opponents in awe. However, suspicions arose about his extraordinary performance. Coaches from the Great Britain pentathlon team grew suspicious and had an expert inspect Onischenko’s epee. Initially, no issues were found. But during a match against Jim Fox, Onischenko’s deception was revealed. Fox dodged Onischenko’s attack, yet a point was still awarded to Onischenko, exposing his elaborate cheating scheme.
Following Onischenko's decisive victory over Fox, Fox approached the Olympic committee to scrutinize Onischenko’s epee. Upon thorough examination, they uncovered a startling revelation. Hidden within the handle was a complex electrical system that allowed Onischenko to manipulate the scoring. The device triggered a point in his favor without requiring an actual hit when pressure was applied. After an investigation, officials concluded that Onischenko had cheated and awarded the victory to Great Britain’s team.
8. Spain’s Paralympics Controversy
In 2000, Spain secured the gold medal in basketball at the Paralympics. While this should have been a heartwarming tale of athletes triumphing over their disabilities, it soon emerged that the victory was tainted by blatant cheating. The players were supposed to have intellectual disabilities, but most of them had no such impairments.
Carlos Ribagorda, a member of the 2000 winning team, later became a writer for a business magazine and authored a book. As evidence surfaced that he had no disabilities, he voluntarily returned his gold medal and disclosed the truth to the Paralympics Committee. He was among 10 players on the 12-member team who lacked any disabilities. The scandal stunned many, as few imagined such deceit could occur in the Paralympics.
The scandal expanded as investigations revealed cheating in other events: two Spanish swimmers and a table tennis player were also found to have no disabilities. Further probes implicated the Russian team in similar misconduct. The Paralympics Committee pointed fingers at Fernando Martin Vicente, founder of the National Association of Special Sports in 1975. While his initial motivations seemed noble, given his disabled son, the growing popularity of the events turned them into a lucrative venture. After the corruption was exposed, Vicente was compelled to step down.
7. Rosie Ruiz’s Marathon Deception
In 1980, Rosie Ruiz seemingly triumphed at the Boston Marathon with an astonishing finish time of just over two and a half hours. Her victory, however, raised immediate suspicions. Despite completing a grueling 26.2-mile race, Ruiz appeared remarkably fresh—her hair was immaculate, and she showed no signs of exhaustion. Observers quickly realized something was amiss, and for good reason: Ruiz hadn’t actually run the race.
Although judges were wary of Ruiz due to her unusual appearance, they initially awarded her the win. However, spectators and fellow runners came forward, stating they had never seen her during the race. Some even claimed to have spotted her on the sidelines. Ruiz further fueled doubts by revealing she had only trained for 18 months in Central Park and had participated in just one other race—the New York Marathon, where her performance was similarly questionable. Kathrine Switzer, a renowned marathon runner and the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, interviewed Ruiz for a television segment. Switzer’s suspicions grew when Ruiz failed to answer basic questions about her training, such as what intervals were.
Evidence soon emerged that Ruiz was far from an experienced runner. In the New York Marathon, she had secured 24th place by skipping parts of the race and taking the subway to the finish line. She employed a similar tactic in Boston, using shortcuts to claim victory. Additionally, it was discovered that Ruiz had lied to enter the New York Marathon, falsely claiming a “fatal brain tumor” to gain special permission after missing the application deadline. Although she was stripped of her title, she faced no legal consequences at the time. However, her troubles with the law began later. In 1982, she was accused of embezzling $60,000 from her employer, and in 1983, she was arrested for selling 2 kilograms (4 lb) of cocaine to undercover officers.
6. Tom Williams’s Bloody Ruse
During the 2009 Heineken Cup quarterfinal, the Harlequins seemed destined to lose against Leinster. However, the game took a strange turn when Tom Williams was substituted off the field due to what appeared to be a bloody mouth injury, despite no visible cause. This allowed Nick Evans, the Harlequins’ top kicker, to re-enter the match. Although Leinster ultimately won, suspicions arose about the legitimacy of Williams’s injury.
Since Leinster emerged victorious, they were unable to investigate whether Williams’s injury was genuine. However, it was later revealed that Williams had faked the injury using a blood capsule he had hidden in his sock. During the 69th minute, he placed the capsule in his mouth and bit down, creating the illusion of an injury. Professor Arthur Tanner, Leinster’s club doctor, grew suspicious and attempted to examine Williams but was blocked. Dr. Wendy Chapman, the Harlequins’ team doctor, was instructed to cut Williams’s lip to make the injury appear real.
The incident, famously dubbed “Bloodgate,” sent shockwaves through the rugby world. Dean Richards, the Harlequins’ director, received a three-year ban from the ERC and was fined £259,000. Tom Williams was initially banned for 12 months, but his suspension was reduced to four months after he confessed to using the blood capsule.
5. Sylvester Carmouche’s Foggy Deception
On January 11, 1990, heavy fog blanketed Louisiana, leading to a sparse turnout at the racetrack. The dense fog made it nearly impossible for spectators to see the horses. Sylvester Carmouche, determined to win with his horse, Landing Officer, saw an opportunity to cheat in what would become one of the most brazen scandals in racing history. As the race began, all nine horses disappeared into the fog. To everyone’s astonishment, Landing Officer surged ahead and claimed victory. With odds of 23–1, those who bet on him eagerly collected their substantial winnings.
However, protests soon erupted as it became evident something was amiss. Video footage revealed only eight of the nine horses on the track—Landing Officer was conspicuously absent. Officials accused Carmouche of leading his horse into the fog, stopping him, and then re-entering the race to create the illusion of a dramatic finish. Carmouche denied the allegations, insisting that Landing Officer was simply exceptionally fast that day.
A veterinary examination of Landing Officer revealed no signs of exertion: the horse wasn’t sweating, breathing heavily, or showing any dirt on its bandages. The Louisiana Racing Commission investigated and concluded that Carmouche had indeed cheated. He was banned from racing for 10 years. But his troubles didn’t end there. Carmouche faced misdemeanor charges for attempting to steal $50—the difference between his $140 prize for winning and the $90 fee paid to all jockeys. He was found guilty and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 20 days suspended, along with court costs and a $250 fine.
4. Manny Ramirez’s Controversial Use of Female Fertility Drugs
Manny Ramirez brought new life to the Dodgers franchise, which had struggled with consistent losses for years. He became one of baseball’s most celebrated players, earning fame and a lucrative contract with the Dodgers. However, the introduction of a drug policy in 2004 eventually led to his downfall. In 2009, Ramirez was caught using female fertility drugs, which are illegally paired with steroids to enhance performance.
Ramirez argued that the drugs were prescribed by a physician for a “personal health matter.” He insisted that the doctor assured him the medication wouldn’t pose any issues. However, he never revealed the doctor’s identity, the specific health condition, or the name of the drug. The substance was later identified as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which is sometimes prescribed to men with low testosterone levels. HCG can also help restore testosterone after steroid use, hinting that Ramirez might have previously used steroids. A simple call to the league’s hotline would have confirmed the drug was prohibited, and players with legitimate medical needs could have sought therapeutic exemptions. Ramirez took none of these steps, resulting in a 50-game suspension that cost him $7.7 million.
3. Panama Lewis’s Mysterious Black Bottle
In 1982, Aaron Pryor faced Alexis Arguello in a boxing match that initially seemed one-sided. Arguello dominated the early rounds, leaving Pryor exhausted and on the verge of quitting. Pryor’s trainer, Panama Lewis, refused to let his fighter lose. Lewis handed Pryor a black bottle containing an unknown substance. After drinking it, Pryor miraculously regained his energy and went on to win the fight.
The incident sparked widespread speculation. Pryor’s sudden comeback from near defeat raised questions about the contents of the black bottle. Many suspected foul play, but Lewis claimed the bottle had been discarded, making it impossible to analyze its contents. He insisted the mixture was merely Perrier water, intended to settle Pryor’s stomach.
This explanation only deepened suspicions. Some alleged that the black bottle contained a concoction laced with cocaine. Luis Resto, a boxer who trained under Lewis, claimed he had been given a similar mixture, though he described it as an antihistamine to enhance lung capacity during fights. Others theorized that Lewis had administered an ammonia capsule to Pryor. With no sample available for testing, the truth remains unverified. To this day, rumors persist that Lewis provided his boxer with illegal performance-enhancing substances.
2. Ben Johnson and the Infamous Dirtiest Race in History
Ben Johnson, a celebrated Jamaican athlete who relocated to Canada, was chosen to represent his new country at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. What began as a standard 100-meter final turned into one of the most infamous moments in sports history when Johnson shattered the world record, only to be exposed for using banned steroids. However, Johnson wasn’t alone—most of the runners in that race were also found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.
The atmosphere was tense as the runners took their positions, with Johnson being the last to arrive. When the race started, Johnson surged ahead, finishing the 100 meters in a record-breaking 9.79 seconds. After the ceremony, Johnson confidently told reporters, “My name is Benjamin Sinclair Johnson Jr., and this world record will stand for 50 years, maybe 100. [ . . . ] A gold medal—that’s something no one can take away from you.”
Ironically, the medal was indeed taken from him. Johnson’s drug test revealed traces of stanozolol, a prohibited steroid. The scandal didn’t end there. Six of the eight finalists in that race would eventually test positive for doping during their careers, earning the Seoul 100-meter final the notorious title of “the dirtiest race in history.” While doping was officially banned at the time, enforcement was lax compared to today’s standards. The widespread attention from Johnson’s scandal prompted the Olympics to implement stricter testing and harsher penalties for doping violations.
1. Onterrio Smith’s Notorious ‘Whizzinator’
In 2005, Onterrio Smith, a running back for the Minnesota Vikings, was stopped at an airport for carrying a peculiar item known as “The Original Whizzinator.” The kit included dried urine, cleaning capsules, and a synthetic penis, all designed to trick drug tests. Although airport security initially flagged him for a toothpaste bottle and allowed him to board his flight, questions arose about why Smith had such a device in his possession.
Smith insisted the device was intended for his cousin, but evidence suggested he might have been using it himself to evade drug tests. His history included two prior drug test failures, one of which led to a four-game suspension for marijuana use. The NFL considered his possession of the device a potential violation of their policy against tampering with urine samples.
The NFL launched an investigation into the matter, allowing Smith to continue practicing until a decision was made. Teammates, including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, expressed support, with Culpepper stating, “Onterrio is like a brother to me. [ . . . ] I always tell him, ‘You need to stay focused and think before you act.’” Ultimately, the investigation confirmed Smith’s violation of NFL policy, resulting in his suspension for the entire 2005 season.
