Steven López

Early life and athletic career López was born on November 9, 1978 in New York City to Nicaraguan parents. His parents, Julio and Ondina, immigrated from Nicaragua to the United States in 1973. His father took odd jobs to support his family and they later moved to Texas. His father encouraged López, his sister, and brothers to be in taekwondo. López first learned it in his garage at the age of five from his father and Jean, his older brother. Steven Lopez and Diana Lopez both qualified for the 2012 Olympic games in London in July 2012 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In January 2006, López tested positive for a banned substance (L-methamphetamine) which he said came from an over-the-counter vapor inhaler he used. He promptly accepted a three-month suspension and participated in an educational anti-doping program.

López is a Roman Catholic who attends St. Theresa Catholic Church in Sugar Land, Texas, and says his faith has always been a very important part of his life.

Allegations of sexual misconduct and sexual assault On June 8, 2017, USA Today published a news items saying that López had been accused of sexual assault and drugging of various female athletes. The accusations claimed there was a repeated pattern of behavior of abuse allegedly perpetrated by López and his brother, Jean Lopez. López and his brother both received a preliminary suspension enacted by USA Taekwondo which effectively barred them from competing in international Taekwondo competitions. Six women have come forward claiming to have been sexually assaulted by Lopez.

In December 2022, the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) lifted the lifetime ban for sexual abuse against Steven Lopez, his brother, and his coach. The CAS found that the charge by the Taekwondo World Federation was based on its 2011 Code of Ethics. However, since the incidents the brothers are accused of allegedly took place before 2011, the code should not have been used, according to CAS.

Career highlights

2015 Grand Prix: BRONZE 2015 Pan American Games: BRONZE 2014 Grand Prix: SILVER 2014 USA Open: GOLD 2013 Argentina Open: GOLD 2009 World Taekwondo Championships (Welter): GOLD 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics: BRONZE 2007 World Taekwondo Championships (Welter): GOLD 2007 Sr. National Team Trials (Welter): 1st 2005 U.S. Olympic Committee Male Athlete of the Month (April) 2004 Athens Summer Olympics: GOLD 2004 US Olympic Team Trials: GOLD 2004 Sullivan Award Finalist 2003 World Taekwondo Championships: GOLD 2003 World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament: BRONZE 2003 Pan American Games: GOLD 2003 Sullivan Award Finalist 2002 World Cup Taekwondo Championships: BRONZE 2002 Pan American Games: GOLD 2001 World Taekwondo Championships: GOLD 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics: GOLD 1999 Pan American Games: GOLD 1999 Pan American Regional Olympic Qualifier: GOLD 1998 World Cup Taekwondo Championships: BRONZE 1998 Pan American Taekwondo Championships: GOLD 1997 World Cup Taekwondo Championships: GOLD 1996 Pan American Taekwondo Championships: GOLD 1996 World Junior Taekwondo Championships: GOLD 1995 Pan American Taekwondo Championships: SILVER 1994 World Cup Taekwondo Championships: BRONZE 1993 Jr. Olympic: BRONZE