Looking back 2024: 10 controversies that rocked sporting world

Top 10 sports controversies of 2024: 2024 saw significant sports milestones, controversies, and achievements, including India's T-20 World Cup win and gender eligibility row. Read more to know more about it.

The year 2024 was remarkable for sports, with significant milestones achieved in various fields, including cricket, Olympics, and chess, among others. India celebrated its victory at the ICC T-20 World Cup 2024, 18-year-old D. Gukesh became the youngest World Chess champion, and the country showcased impressive performances at the Paris Olympics.

However, alongside these successes, 2024 also brought several controversies that stirred the nation. Here are the top 5 sporting controversies that deserve attention.

Ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics not only shattered her dream of an Olympic medal but also that of billions around the world. Vinesh Phogat weighed 100 grams more than her wrestling category and thereby was disqualified to play the final.

As per reports, Ms. Phogat had shifted from the 53 kg to the 50 kg category in the wrestling and reached the finals by defeating undefeated and defending champion Yui Susaki in the opening round. However, luck wasn’t much in her favour, and she was disqualified on the morning of the final for being 100 gm overweight. Although the Haryana-born wrestler appealed her disqualification in the Court of Arbitration of Sports, the decision stood, and Ms. Phogat’s dream of an Olympic medal was trashed.

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif won gold at the Paris Olympics, but her triumph was overshadowed by a gender eligibility row. The gender controversy ignited at the Paris Games in August when Khelif defeated Angela Carini in 46 seconds in her opening bout, the Italian reduced to tears and abandoning the fight after suffering a badly hurt nose.

All these became the talk of the sporting world and triggered a debate on gender policy at the Olympics. It led to a row that attracted comments from politicians and personalities ranging from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to “Harry Potter” author JK Rowling. Earlier, Khelif was also banned from competing in women’s boxing after failing an unspecified gender test and people pointed that out saying that the Algerian should not be competing in the women’s section.

Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka’s animated discussion with K.L. Rahul after a heavy defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad had become one of the talking points of last season’s IPL. Mr. Goenka’s animated chat, purportedly reprimanding Rahul after Lucknow Super Giants’ record demolition at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad, had gone viral on social media.