8 Olympians Disgrace the Sport of Badminton and are Disqualified from the London Olympics

Controversy has shaken the sport of badminton. Not a sport you would imagine players taking dives and intentionally playing poorly just to get a better match to move forward. But, that's just what happened in the 2012 London Olympics.

Eight women's badminton players have been removed from the Olympic games because 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."

The players in question were badminton doubles teams from China (who are the reigning world champions,) Indonesia, and two teams from South Korea. On Tuesday night, players on the women's badminton teams were not even trying to win. The crowd booed the players and some even demanded refunds the matches were so bad.

The decision to eliminate Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang of China; Greysia Polii and Meiliana Jauhari of Indonesia; South Korean teams Jung Kyung Eun and Kim Ha Na; and Ha Jung Eun and Kim Min Jung was made, not only by the International Olympic Committee, but also the Badminton World Federation.

South Korean made an appeal of the decision with what seems is a "China cheated first" stance, but their appeal was denied.

Birdies from China, South Korea, and Indonesia will have the fly the coop in London and head back to their roost in their home countries. Never in my life would I have ever thought that badminton could cause such a ruckus.

[Los Angeles Times]