16 Awards or Medals That Were Later Taken Back
Human beings have received noble medals and awards in the past for their great acts of courage, immense talent, or extraordinary accomplishments. But after the honor is given, sometimes things can occur to drastically change.
This roll call of 16 prestigious awards and medals that were eventually withdrawn highlights the intricacies of recognition and the expectations we place on our heroes.
Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France Victories
Cycling’s most celebrated champion won an unprecedented seven consecutive Tour de France titles between 1999 and 2005, overcoming cancer to dominate the sport. In 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Agency stripped Armstrong of all seven victories after an investigation revealed he had used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career.
The International Cycling Union erased his name from the record books, leaving those seven years without an official winner.
Jim Thorpe’s Olympic Medals
Jim Thorpe, regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, won gold in the pentathlon and decathlon at the Olympics in Stockholm in 1912. In 1913, the International Olympic Committee controversially revoked Thorpe’s medals after learning that he had violated amateur status regulations by playing minor league baseball for compensation.
In 1982, almost 30 years after Thorpe’s passing, the IOC formally acknowledged him as a co-winner and returned his gold medals, redressing the injustice.
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Harvey Weinstein’s Honorary CBE
The British monarchy awarded film producer Harvey Weinstein an honorary Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2004 for his contributions to the British film industry. Following multiple allegations of harassment and assault in 2017, Queen Elizabeth II approved the forfeiture of his honorary CBE in 2020.
The disgraced producer joined a small group of individuals who have had their honors annulled by the monarchy for bringing the system into disrepute.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s Nobel Peace Prize Honors
Many organizations withdrew their awards from Myanmar’s former leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, even though the Nobel Committee never formally rescinded his 1991 Nobel Peace Prize. In 2018, Amnesty International withdrew its Ambassador of Conscience Award, pointing to her disregard for the crimes against Rohingya Muslims.
As a result of her failure to defend human rights, cities such as Dublin, Edinburgh, Oxford, and Paris withdrew their freedom awards from her.
Marion Jones’ Olympic Medals
American track star Marion Jones won five medals, including three gold, at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, becoming an international sports icon. In 2007, after years of denial, Jones admitted to using steroids before the Sydney Games and returned her medals to the International Olympic Committee.
The IOC formally stripped Jones of her medals and erased her Olympic results, redistributing her medals to other athletes and leaving her once-stellar legacy permanently tarnished.
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Bill Cosby’s Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2002, comedian Bill Cosby received the highest civilian award in the country, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from President George W. Bush. The medal was never formally revoked, despite repeated calls for it after Cosby was found guilty of sexual assault in 2018.
This incident brought to light an oddity in the system of awards: even in cases where winners see a significant decline in their reputation, there is no official way to revoke a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Placido Domingo’s Awards
Opera superstar Placido Domingo accumulated countless honors throughout his illustrious career spanning more than half a century. Following allegations of sexual harassment from multiple women in 2019, several organizations withdrew their recognition.
The Philadelphia Orchestra rescinded its invitation to perform at their opening night concert, while the Metropolitan Opera ended its relationship with the tenor after 51 years of collaboration.
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Jim Bakker’s Ministry Credentials
Televangelist Jim Bakker rose to prominence in the 1970s, building a massive religious broadcasting empire with his PTL (Praise The Lord) Club. The Assemblies of God, his religious denomination, stripped Bakker of his ministerial credentials in 1987 following a sex scandal and subsequent financial improprieties.
His dramatic fall continued when he was convicted of fraud and conspiracy in 1989, serving five years in federal prison for bilking his followers out of millions.
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Fred Goodwin’s Knighthood
Sir Fred Goodwin, former CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), received his knighthood in 2004 for ‘services to banking.’ In 2012, the honor was ‘annulled’ by Queen Elizabeth II following Goodwin’s role in the near-collapse of RBS during the 2008 financial crisis.
The unusual revocation reflected the public outrage over his leadership decisions that required a £45 billion government bailout of the bank while he departed with a substantial pension.
Helmut Karasek’s German Cross of Merit
Prominent German literary critic Helmut Karasek received the German Cross of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz) for his cultural contributions. The German government later revoked this prestigious honor when it was discovered that Karasek had briefly served in the Waffen-SS during World War II, a fact he had concealed.
The revelation and subsequent revocation highlighted Germany’s ongoing struggle to confront its Nazi past.
Rosie Ruiz’s Boston Marathon Victory
Cuban-American runner Rosie Ruiz was initially declared the female winner of the 1980 Boston Marathon with an astonishing time of 2:31:56. Race officials stripped Ruiz of her title just eight days later when investigations revealed she had joined the race about a half-mile from the finish line.
The Boston Athletic Association awarded the victory to the rightful winner, Canadian Jacqueline Gareau, in a special ceremony several weeks later.
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Reggie Bush’s Heisman Trophy
Football star Reggie Bush was awarded the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 2005 following his remarkable season at the University of Southern California. Five years later, Bush forfeited the trophy after an NCAA investigation determined he had received improper benefits while at USC, violating amateur status rules.
The Heisman Trust left the 2005 award vacant rather than reassigning it to runner-up Vince Young, creating the only gap in the trophy’s storied history.
Michael Jackson’s Grammy Legend Award
The King of Pop received the Grammy Legend Award in 1993, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to music. While the Recording Academy never officially revoked this honor, numerous organizations removed tributes to Jackson following the release of the 2019 documentary ‘Leaving Neverland,’ which detailed allegations of child abuse.
The documentary prompted radio stations worldwide to remove his music from rotation and museums to take down his memorabilia.
Benito Mussolini’s Honorary Degrees
Before becoming Italy’s fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini received honorary doctorates from several prestigious universities, including the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. These institutions later revoked their honors as Mussolini’s totalitarian regime and alliance with Nazi Germany became increasingly problematic.
The revocations represented early examples of academic institutions distancing themselves from honorees who betrayed their stated values.
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Robert Mugabe’s Honorary Degrees
Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe accumulated numerous honorary degrees early in his leadership when he was viewed as a liberator and educator. As his regime grew more repressive in the 1990s and 2000s, universities began revoking these honors.
The University of Edinburgh led the way in 2007, followed by institutions including the University of Massachusetts and Michigan State University, all citing human rights abuses and political violence under his leadership.
Colin Kaepernick’s Nike Deal Reversal
While not a traditional award, Nike’s endorsement of NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick represented significant recognition of his social justice activism after he began kneeling during the national anthem. Nike initially distanced themselves from Kaepernick when controversy erupted, before eventually embracing him in their ‘Believe in something’ campaign.
This corporate reversal and re-reversal demonstrated how even commercial endorsements can function as a form of honor that responds to public opinion.
Losing More Than Accolades
When prestigious awards are rescinded, more than just medals and certificates are lost. Reputations crumble, legacies are rewritten, and public trust is shaken.
These reversals remind us that honors represent not just achievement but also ongoing responsibility. Each withdrawn award teaches us that recognition is never permanent but remains continually subject to the evolving standards of the societies that bestow them.
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