ALLEGEDLY*
THE MORGUECASE CLOSEDAugust 21, 2026
▶ PLAY THIS CASE BLIND Loads the redacted lede with the answer hidden. Three strikes, same as the day it ran.

Case No. 27: Tonya Harding

In 1994 this champion figure skater pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct the investigation into an attack on a rival — and her sport's governing body banned her for life anyway, months after she had already resigned from it.

The full story

Tonya Harding pleaded guilty on 16 March 1994 to one felony count of conspiracy to hinder prosecution, having admitted helping concoct a false alibi after the January 1994 assault on Nancy Kerrigan. The attack was arranged by her ex-husband Jeff Gillooly with her bodyguard Shawn Eckardt and carried out by Shane Stant. Judge Donald Londer fined her $100,000, ordered a further $50,000 to Special Olympics Oregon and $10,000 in prosecution costs, and imposed three years' probation and 500 hours of community service, with no prison. She resigned from the US Figure Skating Association as part of the plea; it held a hearing regardless and on 30 June 1994 stripped her 1994 national title and banned her for life, finding by a preponderance of the evidence that she had prior knowledge of the attack. She has denied ordering it, and in 2018 said she had overheard talk beforehand that something was up.

The clues we handed out

— Three years' probation, 500 hours of community service, a $100,000 fine, $50,000 to Special Olympics and $10,000 in prosecution costs. No prison.

— She was stripped of the national title she had won that January.

— The attack was arranged by her ex-husband and his associates. She denied ordering it — though in 2018 she said she had overheard talk beforehand that something was up.

— She was the first American woman to land a triple axel in competition. A 2017 film about her won an Academy Award for one of its cast.

— Initials: T.H.

How this case played

ALLEGEDLY* edition No. 27. Three strikes to name Tonya Harding, with a free clue unlocked after every miss.

Where this comes from

Every case on this site is drawn from the public record. These are the records for this one.

upi.com

washingtonpost.com

More closed cases from the Sport desk

CASE No. 30August 24, 2026 In November 2025 this midfielder who bent free kicks for England knelt before King Charles III at Windsor Castle and stood back up… It was David Beckham CASE No. 28August 22, 2026 On the rainy morning of round two of a 2024 major, this world No. 1 golfer was led away in handcuffs after a traffic misunderstand… It was Scottie Scheffler CASE No. 24August 18, 2026 During a 1997 title rematch watched by millions on pay-per-view, this heavyweight champion did something with his teeth that got h… It was Mike Tyson CASE No. 22August 16, 2026 In 2022, this youngest-ever Wimbledon champion was sentenced to two and a half years in a British prison for hiding assets — troph… It was Boris Becker

Every closed case from the Sport desk →

🗞️ PLAY TODAY'S EDITION ← THE MORGUE
*A blind item you can check. Every puzzle is drawn from the public record — court records, official rulings, and moments that unfolded on live television — and the records are linked above. Allegedly.
Privacy Policy · Terms of Service · Cookie Policy · Sitemap