Now it’s not being said that in the past there were no stories or scandal in the sporting industry, but it seems that over the years the “naming and shaming” of athletes is being revealed and exposed to the general public at a higher extent, and these scandals receive straight headlines in the newspapers - headlines that are disclosed to our eyes, but more importantly the eyes of children.
When it comes to sexual scandals, it appears that a new scandal is submerging a famous athlete on a regular basis. The outcomes of these scandals more often than not involve a severe, brutal public image hit for the athletes in question. Some of these sports celebrities have been involved in a range of sexual scandals that have been revealed into the public domain.
The career and life of the world’s most greatest and famous golfer was destroyed with the swing of a golf club. Not in the case of his swing, but in fact from his wife Elin Nordegren chasing him out of his house with a golf club after discovering he’d been unfaithful. |
Another sports star scandal I would like to name and shame is the famous story of Ryan Giggs in where for him the saying “Bro’s before Hoe’s” is non-existent… Literally!
For Giggs, his “family man” image was in pieces following the revelation of his eight year affair with his sister-in-law. His reputation took a further blow when Natasha said she aborted Ryan’s child only two weeks before her marriage to his brother Rhodri.
Is this any surprise to us though? With respect to Giggs’ father, former rugby league star Danny Wilson, who himself is described as a womaniser, ended the relationship with Ryan’s mother when Ryan was young. Danny Wilson’s career was shortened by crime and heavy drinking. Giggs turned his back on his father and adopted his mother’s surname. Ryan’s surname was changed, but did he inherit at least one of his father’s weaknesses?
Other than the fondness to sleeping with people (in addition to their partners), athletes are quite known to take performance- enhancement drugs (or PEDs). It always made me wonder why athletes would take such a risky gamble to start doping and continue to dope, especially if the anti-doping agencies are catching the big names. But then I think again and realise that I should try being in their shoes (or spikes).
Athletes that compete at the highest level are under enormous pressure to show themselves, their fans and spectators that they can perform to the best of their ability, be it using drugs or not. It is natural for an elite athlete to be competitive and deeply want to win. At the end of the day they are performing for the outcome of victory. They might just see doping as one more thing they have to do to achieve this outcome. Also it is said that many in the field of sport are taking PEDs and the risk of getting beat by a doper can be greater than the risk of getting caught.
Some also feel that athletes who play a fair, clean game could potentially lead to a more boring game, rather than performances by juiced record-setters. Numerous experts and journalists have disputed that the cycling authorities knew that Lance Armstrong was doping, but were content to have Lance win year after to year to “develop” the interest in cycling in the U.S., which was a somewhat untapped market in comparison to Europe.
In 2005, Lance Armstrong swore under oath that ex-racing partner Frankie Andreu was being deceitful about Armstrong’s doping allegations. This dishonesty from Lance cost him big bucks! After finally fessing up to doping in January 2013, he allegedly lost $75 million in funding sponsorship in just one day. This confession also served to damage his work to the charity he founded, which he raised up to $325 million for. His credibility and authority in tatters, Lance had to step down and resign from the board of the charity he established.
It is also assumed that Armstrong may make another appearance to the sport of cycling, despite having a lifetime ban and being stripped of his record seven Tour De France titles. Lance Armstrong thinks he has been made to pay a heavy personal price for a crime he declares was carried out by many, and is hoping for a reduction in his ban and the restoration of his seven Tour titles. Ok Lance I think you’re still on drugs to think that will happen!
Now not to sound sexist I thought I should mention a female athlete, as they too are no stranger to a bit of scandal. This one also comes from my homeland Ireland, great way to represent Ireland and to get Ireland on the maps (sarcasm). It is of course the Irish swimmer who won three gold medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics, Michelle Smith (now de Bruin). |
So with all of this being said, it is obviously well known that there are countless scandals of athletes being either drugged or loved up throughout the years, but what do we think should be done about this situation? Should it be ok or the norm for athletes to “Netflix & Chill” with other people and not their partners, or taking substances that enhance performances? Should we allow the sporting industry to attain a saying of sex, drugs and sporting thugs?
Yes doping is potentially fatal, and athletes who do use them are classified as cheaters who benefit from an unfair advantage, destroy the spirit of competition, and broadcast the wrong message to children. But can you honestly say that you have never cheated at anything, even a little class test back in your school days? |
Author: Hollie Groves - 4th year BB (Hons) in Recreation and Sport Management student.