15 Athletes Who Were Caught Cheating on Live TV
Sports can bring out the best in athletes—their determination, skill, and resilience. But sometimes, the drive to win leads to poor decisions. Throughout history, there have been numerous moments when athletes crossed the line, and some of these incidents happened live on television, shocking millions. Here are some athletes whose actions left fans and officials stunned.
Diego Maradona
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It was a quarter-final clash in the 1986 World Cup—Argentina versus England—and tensions were high. When Diego Maradona leaped into the air and punched the ball into the net, the stadium erupted. On the field, it seemed like a legitimate goal, but television replays told a different story. The act, cheekily dubbed by Maradona as the “Hand of God,” was just a handball. Maradona’s smirk that day lives on in soccer lore.
Houston Astros
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In 2017 and 2018, Houston Astros devised a sophisticated system to steal pitching signals using cameras and then relayed the information through coded trash can bangs. Watching batters confidently swing at pitches they shouldn’t know were coming quickly raised suspicion on live TV. Their World Series win is now forever accompanied by an asterisk in fans’ minds.
Nelson Piquet Jr.
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Formula 1 fans expect strategy, but not like this. At the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Renault’s Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed his car to give teammate Fernando Alonso an edge. The move brought out the safety car and completely changed the race’s dynamics. Although it initially went unnoticed, evidence from the live footage was undeniable. Renault’s team faced bans, and Piquet’s career was never the same.
Women’s Badminton Teams
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During the 2012 Olympic Games, several women’s badminton teams were caught trying to lose matches on purpose. Why? They wanted to secure easier opponents in the next rounds. What unfolded on live TV was baffling: serves deliberately hit into the net, returns launched wide, and players halfheartedly chasing the shuttle. Fans and officials were outraged, and the teams were promptly disqualified.
Luis Resto
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Boxing has always been brutal, but Luis Resto’s fight against Billy Collins Jr. in 1983 crossed a line. After the bout, Collins’ father noticed Resto’s gloves felt unusually light. It turned out they’d been tampered with—padding removed to inflict more damage. The live broadcast captured a victorious Resto, but behind the scenes, Collins’ career and health were irreparably damaged.
Thierry Henry
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While France and Ireland battled for a coveted spot in the 2010 World Cup, Thierry Henry’s controversial handball overshadowed the entire match. As he controlled the ball with his hand to set up the winning goal, live cameras caught what the officials missed. The replay was devastatingly clear, and Irish fans were left heartbroken. The incident sparked renewed calls for video assistant referees (VAR), and changed how football would be officiated forever.
Australian Cricket Team
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During a 2018 match against South Africa, Australian player Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to alter the ball’s surface. The moment was glaringly obvious on camera, and officials quickly stepped in. The scandal led to lengthy bans for Bancroft, captain Steve Smith, and vice-captain David Warner, and forced a national reckoning on the state of Australian cricket.
Julie Miller’s Shortcut to Infamy
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Triathlons demand endurance, skill, and integrity—all of which Julie Miller seemed to lack during the 2015 Ironman Canada. She finished with an impressive time, but GPS data revealed she’d cut significant portions of the course. Spectators watching the race live had suspected something was off, and it didn’t take long for officials to confirm her deceit. Miller went on to be banned from life from the sport.
Tom Williams
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Tom Williams’ 2009 “Bloodgate” scandal introduced a new kind of drama in rugby. Williams bit into a fake blood capsule to feign injury that allowed his team to make a tactical substitution. It was a bizarre scene—TV cameras captured the “blood” trickling down his face. The ruse led to bans for Williams and several officials.
Sammy Sosa
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Sammy Sosa was a baseball icon, but in 2003, his credibility took a major hit. During a game, his bat shattered, exposing cork inside—a banned substance used to give hitters an edge. As fans watched in shock, officials confiscated the bat, and Sosa was ejected. While he claimed it was a practice bat used accidentally, the damage to his reputation had been done.
Michael Pineda
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Baseball’s camera angles are unforgiving, as Michael Pineda learned in 2014. The Yankees pitcher had pine tar smeared on his neck during a game against the Red Sox, hoping to get a better grip. His plan might’ve gone unnoticed in another era, but HD broadcasts zoomed in and exposed him to millions. He was promptly ejected and handed a suspension.
Vincenzo Nibali
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Vincenzo Nibali crossed a huge line in the 2015 Vuelta a España. After a crash, he was caught on camera holding onto a team car to gain ground. The footage was clear, and Nibali was disqualified the same day. It was a rare and disappointing blemish on an otherwise stellar career.
Patrick Reed
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There’s no doubt that Patrick Reed’s golf game is skilled, but his sportsmanship is questionable. In 2019, live cameras caught him brushing sand away from his ball in a bunker during the Hero World Challenge. The move gave him a better lie, but it also earned him a penalty and a wave of criticism from fans and fellow players alike.
Simon Dyson
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In golf–or rather, any sport–honesty isn’t optional. During the 2013 BMW Masters, Simon Dyson tapped down a spike mark on the green—a clear rules violation. Worse, he didn’t account for the penalty in his scorecard, and the live footage left no doubt. Even after being disqualified and fined, Dyson faced widespread scrutiny.
Rivaldo Ferreira
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Brazil’s Rivaldo’s acting at the 2002 World Cup was less than admirable. After a Turkish player kicked the ball toward his legs, Rivaldo theatrically clutched his face and fell to the ground. The exaggerated display was obvious to fans and cameras and earned him a fine and a reputation for unsportsmanlike behavior.