The stripping of Olympic medals is a rare but significant event in the history of the Games. While most athletes earn their accolades through hard work and talent, some have had their medals revoked due to various controversies, including doping violations or procedural errors. In 2024, American gymnast Jordan Chiles became the latest athlete to face such a situation when her bronze medal was taken away after a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), following a protest by the Romanian Olympic committee. This decision, which could still be reversed, is part of a long history of medal revocations, where athletes from various countries have experienced the fallout from violations or technicalities.
Jordan Chiles’ Medal Revocation
Jordan Chiles, a standout American gymnast at the 2024 Paris Olympics, earned a team all-around gold and a bronze in the individual floor exercise. However, her bronze medal was revoked five days later after a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The ruling followed a protest by the Romanian Olympic Committee, which claimed that Chiles’ coach had submitted a difficulty score inquiry after the one-minute deadline. Originally finishing in fifth place, Chiles’ score had been boosted by the inquiry, moving her into the bronze medal position. As a result, the CAS ruled in favor of Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, who had finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Rare Instances of Medal Revocation
While rare, the revocation of Olympic medals has occurred several times in the history of the Games, typically due to doping violations or the use of banned substances. In Chiles’ case, the USOPC has announced plans to appeal the decision, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had ordered Chiles to return her bronze. The appeal could potentially reverse the decision, keeping the medal in Chiles’ possession.
Jim Thorpe’s Lost Medals
One of the earliest and most notable cases of an athlete losing Olympic medals was that of Jim Thorpe, regarded as one of the greatest athletes of his time. Thorpe won gold in both the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. However, his medals were stripped the following year because he had played two seasons of semi-professional baseball, which violated the amateurism rules in place at the time. His medals were posthumously reinstated in 1982, over 70 years after the original disqualification, with a ceremony honoring his legacy and achievements.
Rick DeMont’s Disqualified Medal
At the 1972 Munich Olympics, swimmer Rick DeMont won gold in the 400-meter freestyle. However, his victory was marred by a doping controversy. DeMont tested positive for a banned substance after the race, but he had been taking Marax, a medication containing ephedrine, to manage his asthma. The U.S. medical team failed to verify that Marax contained any banned substances, leading to the revocation of his gold medal. Despite DeMont’s legal efforts to restore the medal, it was never returned, and the IOC’s decision stood.
Lance Armstrong’s Medal Loss
Cyclist Lance Armstrong faced one of the most high-profile cases of a stripped Olympic medal. Armstrong was awarded the bronze medal in the men’s individual road cycling time trial at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. However, after admitting to years of doping, Armstrong’s bronze medal was revoked. This incident was part of a larger doping scandal that saw Armstrong stripped of his Tour de France titles and banned from competitive cycling for life. His Olympic bronze medal was part of the fallout from his confession.
Marion Jones’ Doping Scandal
Track-and-field star Marion Jones also had her Olympic medals revoked in the wake of a doping scandal. Jones won three gold and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, including victories in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4×400-meter relay. However, in 2007, she admitted to lying about using performance-enhancing drugs, leading to the IOC stripping her of her medals and records. Jones was also sentenced to six months in prison for her role in the scandal, which marked one of the most infamous doping cases in Olympic history.
Tyler Hamilton’s Doping Controversy
Tyler Hamilton, a prominent American cyclist, faced a doping controversy after winning gold in the individual time trial at the 2004 Athens Olympics. A positive A sample was found in his post-race doping test, but his B sample was not tested due to it being frozen. This technicality allowed Hamilton to retain his gold medal, despite the positive result. While Hamilton avoided losing his medal, his case highlighted the ongoing challenges of dealing with doping violations in Olympic sports.
Carl Lewis’ Upgraded Medal
Carl Lewis, one of the most decorated Olympic athletes of all time, had his medal standing altered at the 1988 Seoul Olympics due to a doping incident involving Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson. Johnson initially won the gold medal in the 100-meter final, but after testing positive for a banned substance, he was disqualified and stripped of the medal. As a result, Lewis, who had originally finished second, was awarded the gold. This incident added another gold to his collection, which ultimately included nine Olympic golds.
Jason Turner’s Medal Switch-Up
Jason Turner’s experience at the 2008 Beijing Olympics mirrored that of Carl Lewis in some respects. Turner, who initially placed fourth in the 10-meter air pistol competition, was later awarded the bronze medal after his competitor, North Korea’s Kim Jong-su, was disqualified. Kim had tested positive for propranolol, a banned substance, which led to his disqualification and the subsequent reassignment of the medal to Turner. This case further demonstrates how doping violations have influenced medal standings throughout Olympic history.
The stripping of Olympic medals, while rare, has become a significant part of Olympic history. Whether due to doping violations, technical infractions, or other reasons, several athletes have seen their Olympic achievements tarnished by the revocation of medals. As seen in the cases of Jordan Chiles, Jim Thorpe, Rick DeMont, and others, the process of stripping medals can be complex and often leads to appeals or reinstatement, though the outcome is not always in favor of the athletes involved.
