The Most Controversial Athletes in Sports History

1. O.J. Simpson

After his playing career, the all-time great football player was charged with double murder. For killing his ex-wife and her friend, he was put through the most intense trials in American history.

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2. Mike Tyson

Tyson was the best boxer and the youngest heavyweight champion. He got a six-year prison sentence after being found guilty of rape. In a 1997 fight, he also bit Evander Holyfield's ear.

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3. Tonya Harding

After it was discovered that she was involved in an attack on fellow Olympian Nancy Kerrigan before the 1994 Winter Olympics, she was permanently expelled from figure skating.

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4. Lance Armstrong

He achieved a record with seven consecutive Tour de France wins after recovering from cancer, but when the truth about his doping practices came to light, he was banned.

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5. Michael Vick

Vick was selected first overall by the Atlanta Falcons. All of that ended in 2007, when he took a guilty plea for his role in a dogfighting ring. He was in jail for 21 months.

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6. Barry Bonds

The greatest player in MLB, who holds the record of 762 home runs. He was accused of lying to a grand jury, which led to charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.

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7. Aaron Hernandez

The NFL star, who was well-known for his athleticism, was convicted of first-degree murder. A drive-by shooting in Boston brought everything to an end with double murder.

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8. Pete Rose

He was known as the ‘Hit King’ of MLB. After it was discovered that he was betting on baseball games while playing and managing for the Cincinnati Reds, he was later banned from the MLB.

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