Top-list of popular doping occasions

813 views, 06.05.2024

Here’s a list of some of the most high-profile doping incidents that have occurred in professional sports. These cases have had significant impacts on athletes’ careers, the perception of their sports, and led to reforms in anti-doping regulations.

Lance Armstrong – Cycling

Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after the USADA investigation revealed that he was involved in a systematic doping program. He eventually confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) during his career.

Ben Johnson – Athletics

Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson won the 100m sprint at the 1988 Seoul Olympics but was stripped of his gold medal after testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol.

Russian State-Sponsored Doping

A large-scale, state-sponsored doping program was uncovered in Russia, affecting athletes across various sports, particularly in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. This scandal led to a partial ban of Russian athletes from the 2016 Rio Olympics and subsequent competitions.

Marion Jones – Athletics

American track and field athlete Marion Jones admitted to using steroids before the 2000 Sydney Olympics, leading to her losing five Olympic medals and serving time in prison for perjury.

BALCO Scandal – Baseball and Athletics

The Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) scandal involved the distribution of steroids to prominent athletes in baseball and athletics, including Barry Bonds and Marion Jones.

Floyd Landis – Cycling

American cyclist Floyd Landis was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after testing positive for elevated testosterone levels. He initially denied the charges but later admitted to using PEDs.

Maria Sharapova – Tennis

Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova was banned for 15 months in 2016 after testing positive for meldonium, a heart medication added to WADA’s banned list.

East German Doping Program – Athletics and Swimming

The state-controlled doping program in East Germany, from the 1970s to the 1980s, systematically provided PEDs to thousands of athletes, leading to numerous Olympic medals but also causing long-term health effects for many athletes.

Justin Gatlin – Athletics

American sprinter Justin Gatlin served a four-year suspension after testing positive for testosterone and other banned substances in 2006, following a previous doping suspension.

Alberto Contador – Cycling

Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title after testing positive for clenbuterol, although he claimed it was due to contaminated meat.

These doping incidents have led to widespread scrutiny of professional sports, affecting athletes’ reputations and prompting stricter anti-doping policies and regulations globally.