However, you mentioned the suspended bad-mitten players. My understanding is that they threw their games because that would place them in a more advantageous bracket moving forward and thus give themselves a better chance to win gold medals.

While it has become somewhat common in many sports to rest your best players during meaningless games leading up to post season play and possibly losing, these Olympians admitted to actually taking affirmative steps for the sole purpose of losing.

I guess I’m OK with resting but not with intentionally losing, but perhaps the debate will continue… ?