Victoria Baranova, Russia, Cycling

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TheDailyBeast.com: Olympics Hall of Shame

Russian cyclist Victoria Baranova (left) was ranked No. 2 in the world and was considered a frontrunner to medal in London. Then the 22-year-old was officially expelled and sent home after failing a pre-Olympics test for testosterone. Her accreditation was taken away, and her case was forwarded to the international federation for any further sanctions.

(Photo: Bryn Lennon / Getty Images)

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Doping, Racist T...

Gabby Douglas. Missy Franklin. Oscar Pistorius. These are names the world will remember for decades to come, Olympic athletes whose feats of strength, skill, and determination filled their nations with pride, and left viewers around the globe spellbound. They’re athletes who belong in an Olympics Hall of Fame. On the other end of the spectrum, there are athletes such as the U.S.A.’s Nick Delpopolo, Italy’s Alex Schwazer, and Switzerland’s Michel Morganella, whose transgressions with drug use, doping, and racist tweeting got them booted from London in disgrace. Here’s a look at the exploits of 2012 Olympians who have earned a place in the Olympics Hall of Shame.

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Nick Delpopolo, ...

Team USA judo fighter Nick Delpopolo (in blue) became the first American athlete to be expelled from the London Games after failing an in-competition doping test. The drug in question: literally, dope. The 23-year-old New Jersey native claims he accidentally ate an unidentified treat before the Games that had been baked with marijuana. A reminder to us all: always ask if there’s pot in the brownies. Nick Delpopolo, from the highest of highs (heh) to the lowest of lows.

(Photo: Paul Sancya / AP Photo)

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Best Photos From the 2012 London Olympics

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Meet Michael Phelps's Model Girlfriend

America's Broke Olympians

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Nadja Drygalla, ...

Germany’s eight-woman rowing team did not even make the Olympics finals, but one member of the octet, 23-year-old Nadja Drygalla (center), still found her name plastered in headlines after reports surfaced that her boyfriend is a far-right extremist. Drygalla voluntarily left the Olympic village following the reports “so as not to be a burden for the team,” says the head of Germany’s Olympic committee, Michael Vesper. German public broadcaster ARD reported that Drygalla’s boyfriend is a leading member of “Rostock National Socialists,” which is a party described as racist, anti-Semitic, and inspired by Nazis.

(Photo: Armando Franca)

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Best Photos From the 2012 London Olympics

Vintage London Olympics Photos From 1908

Meet Michael Phelps's Model Girlfriend

America's Broke Olympians

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Taoufik Makhlouf...

Taoufik Makhloufi: petulant? Or just victim of an unfortunate mix-up? The Algerian track star (left) initially was disqualified from Olympic competition after he jogged a mere half a lap in the 800-meter race, eventually stopping his run altogether. A race official believed he violated the Olympic ideal by not putting forth an honest effort. Makhloufi later was reinstated after it was determined that he had been hampered by a knee injury, and went on to win the 1,500-meter gold. It was later revealed that after handily winning his 1,500 semifinal, Makhloufi no longer wanted to compete in the 800-meter race at all, but was forced to the starting line when his country did not withdraw his entry soon enough.

(Photo: David J. Phillip / AP Photo)

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Best Photos From the 2012 London Olympics

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America's Broke Olympians

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Alex Schwazer, I...

To the uninitiated, racewalking seems—and looks—ridiculous. But the combination of precision and speed it requires actually ranks it among one of the Olympics’ most arduous sports, perhaps explaining the pressure that might have led defending Olympic champion Alex Schwazer to use banned performance substances. The Italian star, who won gold in Beijing, failed a doping test that was administered prior to his arrival in London, which barred him from competition.

(Photo: Stu Forster / Getty Images)

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Best Photos From the 2012 London Olympics

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Michel Morganell...

All it takes is 140 characters to get booted from the Olympic Games. Swiss soccer player Michel Morganella was expelled after an offensive tweet following his country’s 2–1 loss to South Korea a day earlier. Written in French, the tweet said he wanted to beat up South Koreans, that they should “burn” and that they are a “bunch of mongoloids.” The Swiss committee chief said Morganella “discriminated against, insulted and violated the dignity” of the South Korean team, in explaining the decision to ban him from the games.

(Photo: Paul Ellis / AFP / Getty Images)

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Best Photos From the 2012 London Olympics

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Meet Michael Phelps's Model Girlfriend

America's Broke Olympians

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Voula Papachrist...

Morganella wasn’t alone in sending out racist tirades on Twitter. Greek triple jumper Voula Papachristou was kicked off the country’s Olympic team after posting comments on Twitter that mocked African immigrants and insinuated ties to radical political parties. “With so many Africans in Greece, the West Nile mosquitoes will be getting home food!!!” she tweeted. Papachristou also posted several links related to, and retweeted sites and videos promoting, the extreme-right party Golden Dawn.

(Photo: Matt Dunham / AP Photo)

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