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U.S. Swimmers' Robbery Claim During Rio Olympics Only the Latest Scandal

The brewing scandal isn't the first to overshadow the games.
Image: HARDING
FILE: USA's Tonya Harding of Portland, Ore., shows her skate to the judges after interrupting her free skating program at the Winter Olympics in Hamar, Norway on Feb. 25, 1994. (AP Photo/Jack Smith)JACK SMITH / AP

Authorities want to get to the bottom of a bizarre story out of the Rio Olympics: Whether four American swimmers, including 12-time medalist Ryan Lochte, lied about being victims of an armed robbery during a night of revelry.

The reports that the teammates allegedly fabricated their account to cover up possible vandalism have threatened to overshadow the actual games.

But this isn't the first time a blunder made inside or outside the Olympics has grabbed headlines. Here are some of the memorable controversies:

1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics

With East and West Germany competing as separate teams for the first time, members of the East German women's luge team were disqualified when it was discovered they were illegally heating their sleds before each race.

1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics

The tabloid-fueled drama following the arranged attack on American figure skater Nancy Kerrigan by the husband of her rival, Tonya Harding, made the games one of the most watched in history. Kerrigan, who had recovered from a clubbing the month prior, won silver. Harding, who would later plead guilty to conspiring to hinder prosecution, came in eighth.

1998 Nagano Winter Olympics

Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati was disqualified and stripped of his gold medal in the giant slalom after marijuana was found in his system. He argued that he tested positive because of second-hand smoke. The International Olympic Committee reinstated the medal days later because rules at the time were not explicit about sanctions for marijuana use.

2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics

The games were embroiled in controversy before they even began when IOC members were accused of taking bribes from the Salt Lake Organizing Committee to become the host city.

During the games, a new controversy erupted when certain judges in the pairs figure skating competition were accused of colluding to help one another's skaters get better scores.

2008 Beijing Summer Olympics

Cuban athlete Ángel Matos was banned for life from international taekwondo events after kicking a referee in the face. Matos struck the referee after he was disqualified for taking too long during a timeout, and then shoved another official.

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics

American snowboarder Scotty Lago won a bronze medal during the games, but left quietly after racy photos of him celebrating with a woman was leaked online. Olympic and snowboarding officials said he apologized for the incident.

2012 London Summer Olympics

Social media became the downfall of at least two athletes at the games for racially insensitive remarks.

Greek track and field athlete Paraskevi Papachristou was forced to leave London after she tweeted about Africans in Greece and West Nile virus.

Meanwhile, Swiss soccer player Michel Morganella was also sent home after he tweeted negatively about Koreans after his nation lost to South Korea in a match.