They had everything one could dream of — success, money, and fame. But at some point, life took a wrong turn. In this post, we’ll look at the athlete-to-criminal scenario. They had everything one could dream of — success, money, and fame. But at some point, life took a wrong turn.
In this post, we’ll look at the athlete-to-criminal scenario. We’ll also review the BetWinner app’s interface, through which you can follow athletes choosing the light side.
Why Do Athletes Become Criminals?
The short answer is they’re human beings, too. Despite their incredible abilities and achievements in sports, they’re not perfect. They’re vulnerable creatures with their weaknesses, flaws, and demons, just like everyone else.
But to give a more detailed answer, we need to consider several factors.
- The first factor is sports themselves or rather their nature. Sports often rely on tough competition, a craving for dominance, and aggression. While some athletes vent their aggression on the field or in the ring, others bring it into their daily lives, including their homes and families. Therefore, cases of domestic violence among sportspeople are unfortunately not uncommon.
- Another trigger is a sense of elitism. Accolades from the industry and media, as well as adoration from hordes of fans, foster a sense of belonging to some higher caste, which is allowed more than ordinary people. Once elevated, some people have trouble coming down to earth. So, they get the feeling that they can cross the line, and no punishment will follow.
- What else is certainly influential is psychological vulnerability. Athletes, especially pros, are under constant stress. With short careers, they have to work flat out all the time. Managers, coaching staff, and fans demand high performances and victories. Rivals never let them relax. Any misstep is trumpeted in the media. All of this can cause serious mental issues and become a ticking bomb.
The above are not all but some significant factors that fuel the criminal behavior of sportspeople, although in no way justifying them.
Most Infamous Cases
There are numerous examples of athletes getting in trouble with the law. The O. J. Simpson trial was one of the most publicized in history. The American football player is best remembered for a double murder charge, not for his outstanding performance.
Let’s look at some more infamous athletes who broke the law and went from heroes to villains.
Oscar Pistorius
This may be the most notorious story of falling into disgrace in sports. The South African runner inspired people with disabilities around the world. A multiple gold medalist in the Paralympics, a medal winner in non-disabled events, and a role model turned murderer.
In the early morning hours of Valentine’s Day 2013, Pistorius killed his girlfriend in his own home, shooting her 4 times.
| Proven offense | Murder |
| Sentence imposed | 13 years and 5 months |
| Sentence served | 8+ years. He will be released early in January 2024. |
Rae Carruth
The promising American football receiver could have been another NFL star if not for a horrific crime that ruined everything. He turned out to be connected to the shooting of his pregnant girlfriend in November 1999.
The girl died, the child survived with dire health consequences, the League suspended Carruth, and he ended up in prison.
| Proven offense | Сonspiracy to commit murder |
| Sentence imposed | 18 years to 24 years |
| Sentence served | 18 years |
Adam Johnson
Adam was an up-and-coming footballer. He played for Manchester City, won the Premier League, and was once recognized as Player of the Month. But after the charges he faced in 2015, he’s unlikely to be able to continue his career.
Johnson had a relationship with a girl while his wife was pregnant. The affair was not only immoral but also illegal because the girl was only 15.
| Proven offense | Grooming and sexual activity with a minor |
| Sentence imposed | 6 years |
| Sentence served | 3 years |
Tonya Harding
Tonya was a talented figure skater from the U. S. and a true star on the ice. She repeatedly won significant figure skating competitions, including the U. S. Championships. This particular 2014 championship was a fateful one.
Harding organized an attack on her main competitor, after which the latter could not participate in the championship due to injury.
| Proven offense | Conspiracy to hinder prosecution |
| Sentence imposed | 3 years of probation |
| Sentence served | Harding avoided actual jail time but was permanently banned from figure skating and coaching. |
Sports Betting With BetWinner Kenya
There are enough villains in sports, but there are definitely more heroes. At BetWinner Kenya, you can wager on heroic athletes, predicting their feats. And the best way to do this is with the bookmaker’s mobile application, which is always on your phone.
The app makes betting fast and smooth thanks to its user-oriented interface. The neat design and intuitive layout allow you to deposit money, make selections, place bets, and withdraw winnings in an instant.
The BetWinner app has very convenient sorting and filters so you can easily find the sport, tournament, event, and betting market you need. In addition, the bookie’s special offers and bonuses are right in front of your eyes so that you can take advantage of them anytime.
Closing Statement
Some athletes’ abilities may seem supernatural, but they’re humans, after all. And great physical strength can mask great weaknesses. Everyone makes mistakes, sometimes terrible and irreparable, and being a sports star is certainly no excuse for leniency.
