The 15 Biggest Cheating Scandals in Sports History Ranked

Ranking the 15 Biggest Cheating Scandals in Sports History

Manchester City is on the brink of being found guilty of nearly all 115 breaches of Premier League financial rules. This scandal could add a dramatic new chapter to sports corruption history. Rival clubs are reportedly seeking compensation, while talk of relegation, expulsion from the Premier League, and stripping of titles from 2009 to 2018 is intensifying. But how does this compare with other major cheating episodes in sports?

To explore this, we asked the AI tool ChatGPT to list and rank the 15 biggest cheating scandals ever seen in sport.

15th to 11th Biggest Cheating Scandals

New England Patriots – Spygate (American Football): The NFL punished the Patriots after it was discovered team staff illegally videotaped opposing coaches’ signals from unauthorized locations.
Spanish Paralympic Basketball Scandal (Paralympic Sport): At the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, Spain's intellectually disabled basketball team was exposed when most players were found not to have the claimed disabilities, affecting classification systems significantly.
Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan Affair (Figure Skating): Just before the 1994 Olympics, Kerrigan was attacked in a plot involving Harding’s ex-husband and associates. Harding was banned from competition after investigations.
Diego Maradona/Argentina – "Hand of God" (Football): Maradona deliberately handled the ball to score against England during the 1986 World Cup. Unlike organized cheating, this was an individual on-field violation.
Pete Rose (Baseball): Banned for life after it was proven he bet on baseball games, including those involving his own team while managing.

Top 10 Biggest Cheating Scandals

Tim Donaghy (Basketball): NBA referee who admitted betting on games he officiated and providing inside info to gamblers. He served 15 months in prison and received a lifetime ban.
Houston Astros (Baseball): MLB found they used cameras and live feeds to steal signs from opponents during their 2017 championship season. Fined $5 million but kept their title.
Calciopoli (Juventus & other Italian Clubs - Football): In 2006, several Italian clubs manipulated referee appointments. Juventus faced relegation and lost two Serie A titles; others suffered points deductions and bans.
Marion Jones/BALCO Network (Athletics): Jones won five medals at the 2000 Olympics but later admitted to doping. The BALCO scandal implicated many elite athletes.
Ben Johnson (Athletics): Won the 100m at the 1988 Olympics with a world record but tested positive for steroids days later. Stripped of gold and banned for life after a second offense.
Russian State-Sponsored Doping Program (Multiple Sports): WADA uncovered extensive doping and sample tampering affecting over 1,000 athletes between 2011-2015 across Olympic events.
East German State Doping Program (Athletics/Olympics): From the 1960s to 1990s, a state-run doping program gave thousands of athletes anabolic steroids, including children, causing lasting health issues.
Black Sox Scandal/1919 Chicago White Sox (Baseball): Eight players banned for life for fixing the World Series in exchange for money. Led to major reforms including the appointment of the first commissioner.
Manchester City (Football): Found guilty of 114 out of 115 Premier League financial rule violations spanning 2009-2018. Possible sanctions include point deductions, relegation, or expulsion, though appeals are expected.