What does it take to have Olympic medals stripped? The controversial truth of medal re-allocation.

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The Olympic Games represent the pinnacle of athletic achievement, with medals symbolising years of dedication, sacrifice, and excellence. 

However, the path to Olympic glory is not always straightforward, and even after standing on the podium, athletes can find their much-wanted medals taken away. The stripping of Olympic medals is a serious matter that highlights the importance of fair play and ethical conduct in sports.

Since the inception of the modern Olympics in 1896, numerous athletes have faced the harsh reality of having their medals revoked. These decisions are not made lightly and often come after thorough investigations and deliberations by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

The reasons for stripping medals can vary, but they all stem from violations of Olympic rules and principles. From doping scandals to age falsification, the circumstances that lead to medal revocation shed light on the complex challenges facing the world of competitive sports.

Russia has gone through its fair share of doping scandals. Watch here, post continues below.

What circumstances would cause a medal to be stripped?

The Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. Image: Getty.

Several circumstances can lead to an Olympic medal being stripped:

• Doping violations: This is the most common reason for medal revocation. Athletes who test positive for banned substances or use prohibited performance-enhancing methods can have their medals taken away.

• Cheating or rule violations: This includes actions like deliberately losing matches to manipulate tournament outcomes or using equipment that doesn't meet regulations.

• Age falsification: Particularly in sports with age restrictions, athletes who compete under false ages can be disqualified.

• Nationality issues: Athletes competing for countries they're not eligible to represent can face disqualification.

• Misconduct: Severe violations of the Olympic spirit or ethical standards can result in medal stripping.

What is doping?

Doping in sports refers to the use of prohibited substances or methods to enhance athletic performance. Common forms of doping include:

• Anabolic steroids: To increase muscle mass and strength

• Stimulants: To improve alertness and reduce fatigue

• Erythropoietin (EPO): To boost red blood cell production and enhance endurance

• Blood doping: Increasing oxygen-carrying capacity through blood transfusions

• Gene doping: Manipulating genes to enhance performance

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) maintains a list of banned substances and methods, which is updated annually.

How many medals have been stripped in the history of the Olympics?

Image: Getty

According to available data, approximately 159 Olympic medals have been revoked due to doping and other violations throughout Olympic history. 

Athletics and weightlifting are the sports most impacted, with the 2008 Summer Olympics holding the record for the most medals revoked. The majority of the strippings have happened post-2000s, with improved drug testing catching out more doping scandals.

The medals stripped include:

• 54 gold medals

• 51 silver medals

• 54 bronze medals

Out of all these stripped medals, just 11 of them were stripped for reasons other than doping. This included people competing underage, people competing not under their official name, as well as unsportsmanlike behaviour, like throwing a bronze medal on the ground at the podium.

Have any stripped medals been given to other athletes?

In some cases, stripped medals have been returned to the IOC for reallocation to other athletes. However, the process of retrieving medals from disqualified athletes can be challenging. For instance, Russian athletes have been notably reluctant to return their medals following doping scandals. Some athletes have refused to return medals, claiming they've been lost or expressing unwillingness to comply.

The IOC has established guidelines for reallocating stripped medals, aiming to complete the process within 12 months of the final legal decision.

Are stripped medals ever returned to the same athlete? 

Jim Thorpe had his medals returned posthumously. Image: Getty

The most notable case of Olympic medals being stripped and later returned to the same athlete is that of Jim Thorpe, a Native American sports legend. 

In the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, Jim Thorpe dominated the pentathlon and decathlon, winning gold medals in both events. His performance was so impressive that King Gustav V of Sweden declared him "the most wonderful athlete in the world". 

In 1913, it was discovered that he had played semi-professional baseball prior to the Olympics, violating the strict 'amateur' rules of the time.

As a result, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stripped Thorpe of his medals and struck his name from the record books. The decision stood long after Thorpe's death in 1953. However, a persistent campaign by Thorpe's family, supporters, and Native American groups continued to push for the restoration of his medals.

The turning point came in 1982 when researchers discovered that Thorpe's disqualification had violated the IOC's own rules, which stated that objections to an athlete's eligibility had to be raised within 30 days of the Olympic ceremony. This revelation, along with changing attitudes towards amateurism, led the IOC to reinstate Thorpe's medals on October 13, 1982.

In a ceremony in 1983, the IOC presented replica gold medals to Thorpe's children, as the original medals had been lost. 

Can criminals compete in the Olympics and win a medal?

There is no blanket ban on individuals with criminal records competing in the Olympics. Eligibility is primarily determined by meeting the qualifying standards for their sport, being selected by their national Olympic committee, and complying with the Olympic Charter and anti-doping regulations.

However, some factors may affect a criminal's participation:

• Certain countries may have policies preventing individuals with criminal records from representing them in international competitions.

• If the crime is related to sports (e.g., match-fixing), it could result in a ban from competition.

• Severe crimes that lead to incarceration may practically prevent an athlete from training and qualifying for the Olympics.

Even in 2024 convicted criminals are being raised to the special platform of 'Olympian' and representing their countries. 

This year, convicted rapist Steven van de Velde is competing for the Netherlands volleyball team. Van de Velde was convicted in 2016 for the rape of a 12-year-old British schoolgirl, in what was described as a "planned, calculated" assault.

Read on. 

Do Olympians get to keep their medals if they become criminals?

Image: Instagram/@ausolympicteam.

The IOC does not have a specific policy for stripping medals from athletes who commit crimes unrelated to their Olympic participation. Generally, medals are only revoked for violations directly related to the Olympic competition or for severe breaches of the Olympic spirit.

Many Olympians have gone from representing their country to serving jail time. 

For example, American gold medallist James Snook, who won his medal as a part of the pistol team. He was later found guilty of murdering 24-year-old student Theora Hix, with whom he had an affair for three years. He was given the death sentence. 

Then there was Australian rower Murray Riley, who won a bronze medal and then later served as a police officer. He left the force and began his criminal activity, later sent to prison for drug smuggling. 

So, it seems that when it comes to medal stripping it's not a matter of whether you're a good person, but whether you intend to cheat or bend the rules in your chosen sport. 

Featured image: Getty

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