8 badminton players charged....

[MadMullah]

...with not making their best efforts to win...

bbc said:

The Badminton World Federation has charged eight female Olympic doubles players with "not using one's best efforts to win a match".

Four pairs of players - two from South Korea, one from China and one from Indonesia - could be disciplined.

Both pairs were already through to the quarter-finals. Reports have suggested they both wanted to lose to secure an easier draw.

The longest rally in the first game lasted four shots, with match referee Thorsten Berg coming on to court at one point to warn the players.

And a later match between South Korean third seeds Ha Jung-Eun and Kim Min-Jung and Indonesian pair Meiliana Juahari and Greysia Polii is also under scrutiny by the Badminton World Federation.

Both pairs of those teams had also already qualified for the knockout stages, with the winner of Group C to play Yu and Wang and the Korean pairs to face each other if Ha and Kim lost.

The Koreans eventually won by two sets to one.

A statement from the BWF confirmed that all four pairs would face charges of "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".

most likely outcome?? slap on the wrist or something more serious?

[Pints]

I saw this. A disgrace and not what we'd expect from the Olympics.
It was mentioned that this was why the current group stages format isn't ideal. Not sure alternatives there are though.

[Eric Mc]

What was wrong with the knock-out format they used in previous olympics?

[Cheib]

Eric Mc said:

What was wrong with the knock-out format they used in previous olympics?

Presumably this means they get more games to play so more seats to fill ?

[Puggit]

BBC now has a bit of video of the offenders: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19073935

[Rollcage]

Both pairs deserve to be disqualified for that - disgraceful conduct.

[saaby93]

Surely this is just part of strategy. We saw in the cycling how opposing riders work with each other to get around the course before sprinting at the end.
Both teams here have worked out its best for both of them to get a draw in this round - so why not?

[Randy Winkman]

saaby93 said:

Surely this is just part of strategy. We saw in the cycling how opposing riders work with each other to get around the course before sprinting at the end.

Because they are trying to win the race - not lose it.

[taaffy]

saaby93 said:

Surely this is just part of strategy. so why not?

The strategy in badminton is how to overcome and beat your opponents.
This was a blatant attempt to make sure that both the Chinese world no1 and no2 pairs were in opposite sides of the main draw so they would only meet in the final to assure them of winning both gold and silver as they are so dominant in womens doubles.
That farce was not what people paid hard earned money to watch.

[saaby93]

Randy Winkman said:

Because they are trying to win the race - not lose it.

or at least get in the medals - if 3 of you work together to break away from the rest you know youre going to get a medal

Isnt it the same here? By going for a draw in this round they have better chance of a medal in the next

Should they black card all cyclists for not competing with each other in the early stages?

[Blib]

Here's the Olympic competitors' oath.

"In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams."

[taaffy]

saaby93 said:

By going for a draw in this round they have better chance of a medal in the next

You can't draw in badminton, you either win or lose ...both pairs were blatantly trying to lose.
In cycling yes there is a strategy to try and beat the others but their ultimate aim is to win.
Both of these pairs had already qualified for the medal knockout stages, they were trying to fix the match so that they could pick up more medals rather than just accepting the course that the event had taken because of the results of previous matches. That Chinese pair should have won easily and they don't make the sorts of mistakes that they were making in that game.
All the badminton players have worked so hard to get into the worlds top 50 just to be there so to see one of the medal favourites and worlds no2 try to throw a match must have been so demoralising to them.

[saaby93]

taaffy said:

In cycling yes there is a strategy to try and beat the others but their ultimate aim is to win.

So what happened in the mens cycling race?
Seemed to be a strategy amongst the major teams to keep behind the brits so eventually they all lost.
Where in the rules does it say you cant use strategy?
Even if it isnt a very good one

Edited by saaby93 on Wednesday 1st August 10:55

[Rollcage]

saaby93 said:

So what happened in the mens cycling race?
Seemed to be a strategy amongst the major teams to keep behind the brits so eventually they all lost.
Where in the rules does it say you cant use strategy?

The strategy the cyclists employ is one that they hope will ultimately win them that particular heat - the badminton players were just trying to lose that particular match. There is a world of difference.

Surely you can see this?

[hedgefinder]

they should be banned from playing with their cocks for life, that will teach them.

[Cheib]

Rollcage said:

saaby93 said:

So what happened in the mens cycling race?
Seemed to be a strategy amongst the major teams to keep behind the brits so eventually they all lost.
Where in the rules does it say you cant use strategy?

The strategy the cyclists employ is one that they hope will ultimately win them that particular heat - the badminton players were just trying to lose that particular match. There is a world of difference.

Surely you can see this?

Loads of people don't understand the tactics of road cycling...I didn't until I really started watching it properly. I was trying to explain it to a couple of colleagues in the office on Monday...they just don't understand the huge effect drafting/aero has on the sport.

[fido]

Cheib said:

I was trying to explain it to a couple of colleagues in the office on Monday...they just don't understand the huge effect drafting/aero has on the sport.

Ditto. During the womens race, one of my friends kept saying why doesn't one of them just cycle ahead on their own! I suppose it's obvious to anyone who has doen road cycling - the air is like a brick wall at speed.

Back on topic, it's definitely a disgrace and they should be disqualified BUT what should you do in this situation? 1. Why put in the effort to win if it means that you'll face a more diffucult opponent? I know it's morally wrong and bad sportmanship, but if your opponent is obviously trying to lose the game - then you would get a bit peeved off, and in this case, mimic them. 2. Can you complain to the referee that your opponent is taking the piss? 3. Isn't this the referee's job? I hope this makes sense!

Edited by fido on Wednesday 1st August 11:42

[saaby93]

Same happened in the swimming. You find swimmers not wanting to win a heat outright but in the first few positions.
Are we saying that in every round or every race everyone who wants to win should try to be first?
Ultimately it could make for some interesting results

[rohrl]

I think the players involved should be kicked out but more importantly the competition needs to be designed more intelligently so it's never in the interest of the players to lose any game.

Totally different from drafting in cycling. The intention in cycling was always to win the race.

[Happy82]

Puggit said:

BBC now has a bit of video of the offenders: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19073935

That is disgusting