Vinesh Phogat stripped of Olympic medal; Khelif gender row; BCCI vs PCB: 10 controversies of world sports activities in 2024

1. Vinesh Phogat’s Olympics Disqualification

In a stunning flip of occasions, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris 2024 Olympics hours earlier than her historic gold medal bout within the girls’s 50 kg class. Phogat, one in all India’s high medal hopefuls, was obese by 100 gms within the weigh-in rounds on the morning of her closing. The Indian officers, Vinesh’s coaches, made all potential makes an attempt to purpose with the United World Wrestling (UWW) verdict of disqualifying the Indian athlete and striping her of even the assured silver medal, however nothing modified. Vinesh introduced her retirement from wrestling a day later and returned to India empty-handed, even because the Indian Olympic Affiliation appealed to the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sports activities (CAS), demanding a silver medal for Vinesh. The CAS known as UWW’s guidelines draconian however dominated towards Phogat’s demand for a silver medal. he disqualification led to widespread protests in India, with followers and athletes calling the choice unjust.

2. Imane Khelif Gender Row

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif clinched the gold medal on the Paris Olympics, however her victory was marred by a contentious gender eligibility subject. The controversy erupted in the course of the Video games in August, following Khelif’s swift win towards Italian boxer Angela Carini, who was left in tears and withdrew from the match after sustaining a extreme nostril harm simply 46 seconds in. This incident sparked widespread dialogue about gender insurance policies in sports activities, making headlines and attracting consideration from notable figures, together with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and writer JK Rowling, recognized for the “Harry Potter” sequence. Moreover, Khelif had beforehand confronted a ban from competing in girls’s boxing on account of an undisclosed gender take a look at failure, which led many to argue that she mustn’t have been allowed to take part within the girls’s division.

3. PCB vs BCCI for Champions Trophy 2025

In cricket, the continued feud between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) took a dramatic flip when the 2 boards clashed over the placement of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The PCB accused the BCCI of unfairly blocking Pakistan’s internet hosting rights regardless of the nation being the unique host of the match. The BCCI countered, arguing that the political tensions between India and Pakistan made it unfeasible to carry the occasion in Pakistan. The BCCI informed the ICC that the Indian authorities had not given clearance to journey to Pakistan. The controversy escalated because the PCB threatened to withdraw from future ICC occasions, and requires a impartial venue for the match gained momentum. After a number of rounds of conferences, the ICC lastly got here up with the hybrid mannequin for subsequent 12 months’s Champions Trophy.

4. Sanjiv Goenka and KL Rahul Spat in IPL 2024

Within the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, a public spat between workforce proprietor Sanjeev Goenka and batter KL Rahul took centre stage. The battle started after Rahul, the then-captain of Goenka’s Lucknow Tremendous Giants, confronted a string of poor performances within the match. Goenka, recognized for his outspoken nature, criticized Rahul publicly, resulting in a bitter alternate between the 2 after an IPL group-stage match towards Sunrisers Hyderabad. The fallout from this public dispute turned a serious speaking level, with many questioning the function of franchise house owners in micromanaging gamers. It raised questions in regards to the strain positioned on athletes in a high-stakes business atmosphere just like the IPL. Rahul was later launched by LSG and picked up by Delhi Capitals for ₹14 crore within the IPL mega public sale.

5. Magnus Carlsen Disqualified from World Speedy and Blitz for Gown Code

Chess icon Magnus Carlsen was controversially disqualified from the 2024 World Speedy and Blitz Chess Championship after being accused of violating the occasion’s costume code. Carlsen appeared on the match sporting denims, which organizers claimed was in breach of the formal costume necessities. FIDE slapped a financial high quality on the five-time world champion however suggested him become the formal apparel instantly, which the Grand Grasp from Norway refused. Carlsen stated it turned a battle of precept for him. The defending champion then pulled out of the Blitz competitors.

6. Actual Madrid Boycotts Ballon d’Or

In a daring and unprecedented transfer, Spanish soccer membership Actual Madrid introduced it will boycott the celebrated Ballon d’Or ceremony in 2024, citing what they described as bias within the voting system. The membership was shocked to study that Manchester Metropolis’s Rodri, fairly than their very own Vinicius Junior, could be taking house the esteemed award. Vinicius secured second place within the total factors rankings, along with his Madrid teammates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal additionally making notable appearances within the standings.

7. Jannik Sinner Doping Violations

In tennis, rising star Jannik Sinner confronted allegations of doping violations after an unbiased investigation revealed traces of banned substances in his urine samples. Sinner vehemently denied the accusations. In March, Sinner acquired optimistic outcomes from two totally different drug assessments. Following this, the World Anti-Doping Company challenged the choice to exonerate him in September. The Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport is anticipated to make a closing determination early subsequent 12 months. Within the interim, Sinner clarified that the prohibited performance-enhancing substance inadvertently entered his physique throughout a therapeutic massage by his physiotherapist, who had utilized a twig containing steroids to deal with a lower on his finger.

8. Igor Stimac and AIFF tussle

Igor Stimac’s time as the top coach of the Indian males’s soccer workforce ended on a disappointing notice. The previous Croatian centre-back and supervisor was dismissed by the All Indian Soccer Federation (AIFF) following a string of losses within the AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar, which additionally included his failure to guide the workforce into the AFC Third Spherical of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Within the aftermath of his dismissal, Stimac engaged in a public dispute with the AIFF, criticizing the group and labelling it as “stuffed with lies” whereas claiming that Indian soccer was “imprisoned.” He subsequently filed a criticism with FIFA concerning an alleged breach of contract and secured a compensation bundle amounting to $400,000.

9. Protests Towards FIFA for Allocation of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia

FIFA’s determination to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia prompted backlash from rights teams because of the nation’s human rights report. The Norwegian Soccer Federation (NFF) stated that it’ll “vote towards FIFA’s awarding of internet hosting rights for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups by acclamation,” including that it had “formally criticised the method in a letter to the world governing physique.”

10. System 1 Price range Cap Violations

The System 1 group was shaken by revelations of funds cap violations by a number of groups, together with among the sport’s greatest names. The governing physique, the FIA, launched investigations into these allegations, claiming that groups had exceeded the allowed monetary limits in an effort to achieve a aggressive edge. The violations threatened to undermine the integrity of the game, particularly in a season the place competitors was anticipated to be tight. Some groups confronted vital penalties, together with fines and level deductions, which added gas to the controversy. The incident raised issues about monetary transparency in motorsport and the necessity for stronger enforcement of guidelines.