15 Scandalous events that rocked the Olympics (With Pictures)

11. Ara Abrahamian Pulls A Tantrum

Ultra successful Armenian-Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian, had already won two World Championships and a silver medal before the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Gearing up to win the gold, Abrahamian was as determined as every other athlete to take home the highest prestige of them all. However, upon reaching the semi-final, things didn’t go quite to plan with Abrahamian losing out to eventual winner Andrea Minguzzi. Infuriated, Abrahamian and his Swedish coach Leo Mylläri instantly challenged the ruling, accusing the panel of corruption and foul play. Demanding a video review as well as forming a written complaint, the referees refused to listen and went ahead with their initial decision in awarding Abrahamian the bronze. However, as the medal ceremony began to take place, Abrahamian received his bronze medal then stepped off the podium only to place the gleaming trophy in the center of the wrestling mat, walking away from a jeering crowd. Discussing his actions in an interview later that day, Abrahamian stated that he was retiring from the sport due to corrupt officials and match fixing. Clearly disagreeing, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later decided that Abrahamian would be stripped of his medal, claiming ‘a breach of the spirit of fair play’.