Embarrassment For China: Team Disqualified For ‘Extensive Cheating’ At Military World Games Hosted By China Itself

In an unprecedented action, the Military World Games (MWG) organisers disqualified the entire Chinese orienteering team for cheating, reports CNN.

The most embarrassing aspect is that the games are being held in China who acts as the host and the athletes are presumably officers and soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

In this meet, the Chinese athletes had taken the first, second and fourth places in the women's middle-distance orienteering competition, as well as second place in the men's. But all of them stand to be disqualified in a statement by the International Orienteering Federation (IOF).

After other countries participating in this event complained, the judges found that the Chinese runners had been assisted by local spectators. Onlookers had placed markings and prepared special paths in the terrain for Chinese athletes, which was exclusively known only to the Chinese competitors.

In a statement the IOF said, "The IOF takes the actions of the Chinese team very seriously."

IOF Secretary General Tom Hollowell said in a statement, "investigating if any further actions need to be taken to guarantee the fairness of competition at the upcoming World Cup final in Guangzhou, China from October 25."

The military games are also held every four years like the Olympics and at the Wuhan games more than 9,000 athletes from 109 countries are participating.