5 Shocking Olympic Scandals, Conspiracies, And Attacks

Angel Matos - 2008

Angel Matos, a taekwondoist from Cuba, kicked a referee in the face out of rage for being disqualified from a match in the 2008 Olympic games. He was disqualified for exceeding the time players are given for an injury time out. After his ankle started hurting, Matos took longer than a minute to get back in the game. When asked to step out of the game, he kicked the referee in the face, and then punched another official. Because of his violent disorderly conduct, Angel Matos was banned for life from any international taekwondo events. Fidel Castro defended Matos and provided an explanation as to why it was totally acceptable for the angered athlete to act out.

I saw when the judges blatantly stole fights from two Cuban boxers in the semifinals", Castro wrote. "Our fighters ... had hopes of winning, despite the judges, but it was useless. They were condemned beforehand."

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