London Summer Olympics: Badminton Scandal, Doubles Pairs Face Match-Throwing Probe, So Much for the Olympic Creed (Update: 8 Olympic Badminton Player Out … Booted from Games)

The Olympic creed …

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” (Pierre De Coubertin)

I guess some of the Badminton doubles teams at the London Summer Games did not get the Olympic creed memo.  Eight female badminton players, including the world champions from China, are under an investigation for allegedly throwing matches. Seriously? The possible match throwing scheme is a result of the new round-robin format in the initial round of play rather than a knock out one, where losing one game can lead to an easier matchup in the next round. Good grief, don’t hate the game … question the integrity and ethics of the player.

A disciplinary hearing began Wednesday for eight female badminton players, including the world champions from China, after they were accused of trying to throw matches at the Olympics a day earlier to secure a favorable draw.

The Badminton World Federation said in a statement it had charged the doubles players from China, South Korea and Indonesia under its players’ code of conduct with “not using one’s best efforts to win a match” and “conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport.”

The South Korean players and coach already have been questioned at the hearing, which is being held at a hotel near the Wembley Arena venue. Still awaiting questioning are the Chinese and Indonesian teams.

Federation spokeswoman Gayle Alleyne declined comment on possible sanctions from the hearing.

While the IOC is at it and investigating Chinese athletes, they might want to take a long hard look at Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen and alleged blood doping.

UPDATE I: 8 Badminton Olympians Out … How is it that of all the sports that are contested in the Olympics that it is Badminton that becomes the most controversial? Shuttlecocks? Imagine that most athletes train a lifetime for one shot at winning a medal or at the very least compete in an Olympics. So what did these fools do, intentionally lose to draw a weaker opponent in the second round. Rather unbelievable if you think about it. As much as I have questioned and disagree with many decisions by the IOC to throw them out of the Games. Next time you want to throw a match, you may not want to make it look so obvious.

Four badminton teams were kicked out of the women’s doubles at the London Games on Wednesday for trying to lose on purpose, conduct that a top IOC executive said strikes at the heart of Olympic competition.

The eight doubles players from China, South Korea and Indonesia were cited by the Badminton World Federation for “conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport.”