The Senegal national football team has just been eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations.
The the decision, Following misconduct in tournament finals is controversial but far from unique. This is the latest example in a string of sporting titles or results.
Ben Jonson 1988
Canada’s Ben Johnson shocked the world in 1988 with a record-breaking time of 9.79 seconds in the final of the 100m sprint to secure a gold medal.
Sprinter Ben Johnson leads the 100m in Seoul in September 1988. Image: Reuters
His performance was the talk of the Games – but just three days later, his reputation was tarnished.
The International Olympic Committee said the athlete’s sample tested positive for steroids and his title was stripped and he was disqualified from the Games.
American sprinter Carl Lewis was awarded for his new American record of 9.92 seconds in one of the most controversial chapters in high-level sport.
After 18 months, the gold medal fell
Another result was canceled this week – 18 months after it was recorded.
Adeja Hodge. File photo: Reuters
British Virgin Islands’ Adeja Hodge won gold in the 200m at the 2024 World Junior Athletics Championships in Peru.
Banned substances were found in samples taken from the runner – GW501516 sulfone and GW501516 sulfoxide.
The Athletics Integrity Unit admitted that they did not intentionally take them. But she was handed a two-year ban, with seven months suspended.
This means she loses her 200m title from August 2024. It was awarded to Australia’s Tori Lewis.
Arsenal-Sheffield United FA Cup dispute
The Gunners beat Sheffield United 2-1 in an FA Cup fifth round tie at Highbury in 1999 – but in controversial circumstances.
The Blades put the ball out of play to allow the player to receive treatment. But after the resulting throw-in, Arsenal did not return possession and instead Marc Overmars broke upfield to score the winning goal.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger gave Sheffield United a replay. File photo: Reuters
Fury over the incident grabbed the sporting headlines, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger offered United the chance to overturn the result and replay the tie.
Ten days later the match was played again at Highbury. It ended with the same result – a 2-1 win for Arsenal.
The Bundesliga result has changed
In December 2024, Bochum and Union Berlin drew 1–1 in the German Bundesliga.
But after a bad-tempered game, Bochum’s goalkeeper Patrick Druce protested the result, requiring lengthy treatment when he was hit by a lighter thrown from the crowd.
Patrick Druce of Bochum reacts after being hit with a lighter. Image: Reuters
Drews didn’t play. That left Bochum striker Philipp Hoffmann in goal as he had already used his substitutes.
The match ended in a draw as both teams failed to mount any meaningful attack. But the German Football Association later awarded the game to Bochum, recording a 2-0 win.
The court later upheld the move despite an appeal from Berlin.
Tour de France cyclist loses titles
There was Lance Armstrong Stripped of his seven Tour de France titles And the US Anti-Doping Agency announced in 2012 that he was banned from cycling for life.
Lance Armstrong pictured in 2005. Image: Reuters
It comes after the American cyclist said he would drop his fight against the agency’s allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs to win the sport’s most prestigious event from 1999 to 2005.
USADA claims the cyclist used banned substances including blood-boosting EPO and steroids and blood transfusions.
Armstrong insisted he was innocent and sued in federal court to have the charges dismissed, but lost.
