Scotty Lago Photo Controversy Got Lago Forced Out of Olympics?

Scotty Lago's photo controversy is the big Internet story of the Olympics. The Scotty Lago photo controversy is tailor made for the online age, but not for the Olympic committee. The bronze medalist snowboarder had an infamous, racy way to use his medal at a party, and is now going home as a result. Thanks to letting a woman kiss and bite his medal when it was in front of his crotch, he is now better known for that than actually winning the medal. Yet the Scotty Lago photo controversy doesn't quite end there, depending on whether he left on his own.

The racy pictures leaked a few days ago, and it didn't take long for Lago to leave the Winter Olympics as a result. He didn't have any more events to compete in, but he would have spent the rest of the games basking in his newfound glory. Yet now he has to do it outside of Vancouver, and away from the United States Olympic Committee.

The official story is that the Scotty Lago photo controversy made him leave on his own. But according to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan, he was forced out instead. Two unnamed sources close to Lago allegedly told Passen that the United States Ski and Snowboard Association basically made Lago leave, before the racy pictures did more damage.

The USSA wanted to resolve this before the USOC got involved, so they reportedly told Lago to leave on his own, or risk getting kicked out by USOC officials. As such, Lago had to leave a week early, forgoing his plans to stay for the closing ceremonies.

The Scotty Lago photo controversy is gaining traction for the sexually suggestive manner in which an Olympic medal was used. However, according to Passan, the ordeal is an overblown reaction to avoid incidents like Michael Phelps getting caught with a bong. It also turns snowboarders into scapegoats, even though the sport 'brings verve' to a 'more constipated' Olympic Games, according to Passan.

If the Lago photo controversy has any more life, it will be as an example of the Olympics' love-hate relationship with this relatively new sport. Snowboarding is a new audience favorite, thanks to Lago and Shaun White, despite its extreme games background. But it also has a reputation for wild personalities - as also evidenced in White's coach cursing live after his gold medal run.

The Winter Olympics 2010 is now finally getting headlines for competition, rather than bad scandals. But the Scotty Lago photo controversy puts the Olympic committee back in the spotlight, as their reaction is either a crackdown against bad behavior, or part of a generation gap.

It could also be both - but if it was meant to quickly end the racy pictures scandal, it isn't working yet.

Sources

Yahoo Sports- "Sources: USSA forced Lago to leave Olympics"

Minneapolis Star Tribune- "Let's let these snowboarders do what snowboarders do"