he modern Olympic Games, which started in the year 1896 is the biggest showpiece event of sports. However, they have witnessed some really big problems and controversies. Be it performance-enhancing drugs to boycotts and even the world war. Not only this, terrorists also didn't miss the opportunity to eclipse the glory of these games. But despite all these adversities and problems, no one could stop the Olympic Games from gaining its glory. Let us know when major controversies arose in the Olympics due to drugs, terrorism, and war and what was the reason behind it.
Olympics and Drugs
The use of performance-enhancing drugs and substances in the Olympics can be seen from the ancient Olympic Games. However, the first official case of the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the modern Olympic Games, which started in 1896, was seen in the Mexico City Olympics of 1968. When Swedish athlete Hans-Gunnar Liljenwall won the bronze medal in the pentathlon event and he was found positive after drinking two beers. Drinking beer stabilized his nervous system and he was the only athlete to be found positive in this Olympic Games.
Death of an athlete
Before the year 1968, in the 1960 Rome Olympics, Danish cyclist Knud Enemark Jensen suddenly fell while riding a bicycle and subsequently died. Later investigation revealed that Knud had used amphetamine drugs. Due to this, he became unconscious during the race and this was considered to be the reason for his death.
East Germany swim team stuns everyone
In the 1970s and 1980s, the highest use of performance-enhancing drugs was seen by athletes from East Germany. When German female swimmers used steroids extensively and in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, the East German swimming team won gold medals in 11 events. After this, investigators found that the East German athlete used steroids. Whereas about 9 thousand athletes were found using these drugs.
Ben Johnson stripped off Olympic gold
A high-profile case related to steroids came to light at the 1988 Seoul Olympics when Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson won the men's 100 meters but was stripped of his gold medal after testing positive for stanozolol and finished second. The gold was later given to Carl Lewis of America.
World Anti-doping Agency established in 1999
In this way, to deal with the increasing trend of performance-enhancing drugs and the deteriorating condition of athletes and to make the Olympic Games fair, the International Olympic Committee took a big step and formed the World Anti-Doping Agency in the year 1999. Which issued a list to end the consumption of these drugs and if an athlete is found consuming any of the drugs included in that list, then he is either removed from the competition. If that athlete is found positive after winning the medal, then the medal is taken away from him. In every country of the world, its National Doping Agency works under the World Anti-Doping Agency, which provides information about the drugs banned from time to time to the athletes of their country and also tests their samples.
More than 50 Russian athletes stripped of medals
In 2008, Russia performed brilliantly in the Beijing Olympic Games in China and stood third after China and America with a total of 60 medals, including 24 gold medals. But six years later, when the Winter Olympics were held in Russia, Russian athletes were found guilty of doping. After this, the International Olympic Committee got worried and tested the samples of Russian athletes participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games with more modern technology. In which 19 players were found guilty and 14 of these athletes had won gold medals. Not only this, more than 150 Russian athletes were found involved in doping, which is a shameful record made by athletes from any one country in Olympic history. While more than 50 medals were later snatched from Russia. Taking strict action against Russia, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned it for four years in 2019, while later on Russia's appeal, the Court of Arbitration for Sports reduced the ban to two years. Meanwhile, Russian players participated in the games under the neutral flag.
Olympic Boycott
From the year 1896 till now, many countries have boycotted the Olympic Games from time to time to put their demands before the IOC. The biggest example of this was seen during the Cold War between America and the Soviet Union during the 1980s. Due to which America and 65 other countries boycotted the Olympic Games to be held in Moscow city of Russia on a large scale because the Soviet Union had attacked Afghanistan. While Albania withdrew without giving reason and China did not participate in separating Taiwan. Due to which a total of 67 countries could not participate in it. In this way, for the first time, the modern Olympic Games were boycotted on such a large scale.
Whereas before this, the Olympic Council of Ireland boycotted the 1936 Berlin Olympics in Germany because the International Olympic Committee believed that Irish athletes could only lead the independent Irish state instead of the entire island group. The Olympic Games were held in Melbourne city of Australia. The Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland had refused to participate in these games due to the Soviet Union's suppression of the Hungarian rebellion. In the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Olympics, several African countries together threatened the International Olympic Committee that the separatist regime would Due to this, South Africa and Rhodesia should be banned from participating.
Sex Discrimination
While women could not participate in the ancient Olympic Games, women registered their presence in its second edition after the modern Olympics starting in 1896. In the 1900 Paris Olympics, women participated in tennis, sailing, croquet, horse riding and golf. Along with this, a total of 22 women participated in the 1900 Paris Olympics, which was only 2.2 percent compared to 997 male athletes.
History created in London Olympics
As the trend of modern Olympic Games continued to increase all over the world. With time, the International Olympic Committee gave a lot of encouragement to women for these Olympic games. The first successful example of which was seen when a total of 10,518 athletes participated in the 2012 London Olympic Games played from 27 July to 12 August. In these, 4,655 women along with 5863 men participated, which was 44 percent as compared to men.
Record 50 percent women will participate in Paris Olympics
In the London Olympics, female athletes participated equally with men in every single event. Not only this, countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei sent female athletes to the Olympic Games for the first time. Recently, in the last Tokyo Olympics 2022, women participated in large numbers and their participation was the highest till date at 47.8 percent, whereas in Paris Olympics 2024, 50 percent women will participate.
War and Terrorism
The modern Olympic Games, which started in 1896, are held every four years. These games, which spread the spirit of friendship through sports all over the world, have themselves been canceled thrice due to war. In 1916, the Olympic Games could not be held due to the First World War. Whereas after this, in the year 1940 and 1944, the Olympic Games could not be held due to the Second World War.
When terrorists attacked Israel team
In the year 1972, Olympics were organized in Munich city of Germany. This is the first and last Olympics so far, in which the shadow of terrorists was seen. On September 5, eight Palestinian terrorists from the terrorist group "Black September" killed two members of the Israeli team and kidnapped nine members. In the subsequent action, nine Israelis were killed and five terrorists and one policeman were also involved. After this, the Olympic Games were stopped for 34 hours but later the Games started at the insistence of IOC President Avery Brundage and he said, "The Games must happen!" Although after this many threats were received from terrorists regarding the Olympic Games, but the IOC has kept them away from these games with tight security.
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