Movistar Plus+ has released a documentary that sheds light on one of the most scandalous events in the history of Spanish sports.
When Fraud Reigned Supreme
Spain’s victory in the 2000 Paralympic basketball tournament in Sydney is often remembered as one of the most egregious cases of cheating in sports history. Behind the scenes, the Spanish Sports Federation for the Intellectually Disabled (FEDDI) masterminded a scandal to secure more subsidies and sponsorships for the federation.
Unpublished Testimonies Reveal the Truth
The documentary features previously unpublished testimonies from Ramón Torres Soto, one of the two players on the 12-member team who actually had a disability. His story reveals an intricate web of deception.
Carlos Ribagorda, the journalist who posed as an athlete to expose the scandal, explains, “The only test before going to Sydney was some push-ups and some jumps… They have never given me an intelligence test.”
Consequences of the Scandal
The Spanish Paralympic Committee (CPE) ultimately withdrew the medals from the players involved in the fraud. Fernando Martin Vicente, former president of FEDDI, was convicted of fraud.
Ramón Torres Soto, one of the two players with a disability, recalls the devastating consequences of the scandal: “I didn’t cheat. I didn’t do anything wrong. They ripped my heart out with that gold medal.”
The documentary “Stolen Olympic Gold” exposes the dark truth behind the 2000 Paralympic basketball tournament in Sydney.