Will Team USA Basketball Lose Gold Medals Over Corruption Scandal?

Team USA Basketball captured gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In the championship Game against France, the American side rode another vintage Stephen Curry performance to the top prize in the tournament.

Unfortunately, controversy surrounds their efforts in the previous round.

During a semifinals showdown against Serbia, Team USA benefited from some questionable preferential treatment from the referees. It was called out immediately by players on the Serbian side, but those claims were dismissed initially.

The situation escalated, however, when an Olympic referee came out and also said the Americans benefited from special treatment.

“Referees, they can’t be starstruck by who is playing the Game,” former Olympic referee Todd Warnick said.

“If they foul, the foul. And if they score, they score, and if they don’t foul, they don’t foul. This is sort of a fundamental error that you don’t want to see referees make. They (Serbia) could have benefitted from some more correct decisions in the fourth quarter by the referees.”

The theme of the basketball referees in this year’s Olympics being compromised has been present for a while now. France beat Japan in the early rounds thanks to some blatantly corrupt officiating. Then South Sudan made a similar complaint. Now this.

On the heels of American gymnast Jordan Chiles being stripped of her bronze medal over a technicality, many have started wondering if something similar could occur with Team USA Basketball.

At the moment it seems unlikely. The Chiles situation unfolded as the Olympics were still occurring. This is happening in the aftermath of the Games ending.

That said, there is no denying that a dark cloud hangs over Team USA Basketball’s win in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Anthony Amador

A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school Games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.