In sports venues around the world, it is not only the stories of heroes and winners that are being written. But history also remembers the rogues who were so blinded by the vision of glory and success that they spat on the rules of fair play.
Fraud and cheats are as intrinsic to sport as a white foam cap is to a good beer. They were always here, they are still here, and they will certainly not disappear in the future. While there is not much we can write about future cheaters, there is plenty we can write about those who have cheated in the past. The following chapters feature ten athletes who are more famous for their scams than their performances.
The Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson won the 100m at the 1988 Olympics with a fantastic time of 9.79 seconds, defeating his most prominent rival Carl Lewis. The joy lasted only until his urine sample ended up in a laboratory, where it was found to contain banned steroids.
The hero became the ultimate villain overnight. Johnson lost his record and his medals. After a two year ban from racing, he tried to return to the track. Still, he ended up ingloriously with another doping scandal.