Eight female badminton players were thrown out of the Olympics on Wednesday for trying to lose matches the day before, the Badminton World Federation announced after a disciplinary hearing.
"After a hearing this morning before the BWF’s Disciplinary Committee the following pairs were disqualified: Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang (China); Greysia Polii and Meiliana Jauhari (Indonesia); Jung Kyung Eun and Kim Ha Na (Korea); and Ha Jung Eun and Kim Min Jung (Korea)," read a statement from the Badminton World Federation.
The players from China, South Korea and Indonesia were accused of playing to lose to face easier opponents in future matches.
How group stages may tempt athletes to throw games
The Indonesian and South Korean pairs appealed the decision, the BWF said, and a decision on their appeals is expected later on Wednesday.
The eight players concerned had all already qualified for the quarterfinals of the tournament before the final matches of the group stage on Tuesday night.
But the results of the last group matches mean the Chinese pair, Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang - ranked No. 1 in the world - avoid potentially facing another top Chinese duo until the final on Saturday.
The two lackluster contests in London angered the watching crowds.
British sports fans going into the Olympic Park on Wednesday called it "shocking" after seeing parts of the matches on television.
"It's not in the spirit of the thing," said Kevin Button, from Ashford in Kent, just outside of London.
"And it's so disappointing for the people who came to see it," his wife Tina said. "It leaves a bit of a sour taste."
More from the London Olympics
China: West being petty over swimmer
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They were doing what the system requires in order to enhance their gold medal chances. Don't like it, change the system. The punishment seems ridiculous.
The system disqualified them.
This is just ridiculous. the London 2012 Olympics is just full of unnecessary and unfair judicial systems. The people who are in control of the Olympics do not represent the Olympic spirit at all. Too much crap with 2012 London Olympics, especially against Asians. Why even have an Olympic at all?
If you can find a way to beat the format system then do it. Honestly I don't see nothing wrong here. For decades, all sports does it such as NFL-teams lose for draft pick or teams purposely lose to play another team in the playoff, NBA-Resting Star players for the playoff, MLB- Walking the batter because he can hit.
Wow a communist country trying to undermine the nature of the game.
Is anyine really sirprised?
These people will steal the last dime from their own dying grandmother.
lmao @Michael. If mind altering drugs were made of steel (instead of oil), what nation would you call "magnet"?
Obviously the real problem is with a format that doesn't provide the proper incentives to win every match
Replace Badminton with Golf!
Cheating 101- do it but don't be so freakin obvious!
First the cheating in the 2008 Olympics ,now this , this is a prime example of why i don`t want my country dealing with the Chinese at any level ,sports or business. This is communism at its best ,they have lied to us , cheated on us , and have in the past stolen top secret info from us. They have no respect for intellectual property or trade agreements , and have pirated lots of brand name goods which they have been warned about but ignore and continue to trade illegally , yea lets embrace our Chinese buddies some more Obama.
@Rico53, so how exactly did they cheat?? And as many American drug stimulant users as there are, are you going to dare and say that this is restricted to a country?
All 5 people that showed up to watch the match were disappointed..
Congratulations on having the only witty comment. Everyone else is trying too hard.
Good point phil. Hell is likely very exciting. What with the lake of fire and all.
Can you image the tan you could get there?
BADMINTON? And this is an Olympic Sport?
WOW, I could have gone to the Olympics playing Badminton?
Then, I could throw a game to play worse badminton payers?
My coach would be turning over in his grave.
I don't care so much about players throwing games to face certain opponents. That's a strategy used quite often in NFL. I'm more concerned about the systematic doping that enable Chinese swimmers to break records after records. As you all know drug testing is always a step behind. When steroids were rampant in baseball there were undetectable steroids that took years to develop a test for them. There are reports China have perfected a new doping that are virtually undetectable to testing. Whereas you see clear fatigue from Lochte fading in 4×100 freestyle relay, Chinese swimmers are simply like Energizer bunnies breaking records after records. We're dealing with a country that are top 3 in the number of swimmers banned in past Olympics. They simply discover a way to cheat without getting caught.
"That's a strategy used quite often in NFL"
No it isn't.
if we have that kind of doping, we would use it on football team........................ Can u guys stop querying?!
"That's a strategy used quite often in NFL." Oh, really? How about some examples?
Just because China has beaten the time of an all mighty American – right away doping comes into the picture put forth by Lochte coach!
But, when the mens 4 x 200 relay won yesterday by 4 seconds in front of the 2nd place team, I did not hear anything then about doping or even a mention that there would be drug testing. All of a sudden in the 3rd rotation they just took off in the pool, just like the little Chinese girl.
Typical that Americans will complain because someone beat them. Leave the little girl alone and let her enjoy her medals.
Not as bad as killing helpless dogs I guess.
Mike, when did you learn to speak like a Brit (in NFL, China have)?
its strategy. In other sporting codes, teams rest players after they have qualified for the next round. If we gonna throw people out then lets throw out Usain Bolt and many other athletes for slowing down in a race, after the job has been done. This is ridiculous. Its more political than anything. "criple china and tiger economies in all they do" thats the feeling Im getting. The western world is ridiculous. Unfair treatment. Not just to these ladies, but to the Chinese 16 year old swimmer. This would have never happened to pathetic team GB... Africa, in solidarity, should boycott these games for Asia's cause. There's no honour in the way that the elite first world nations use world bodies in executing their political ideologies.
Dude, "resting players" after you've already qualified for the playoffs is NOT EVEN REMOTELY THE SAME as "playing to lose." It's not even in the ballpark.
So Someone has obviously decided to use my name above. What a loser.