2 min readRace organizers of the famed Comrades Marathon disqualified 25 runners ahead of the June 11 race after they allegedly submitted false qualifying information, according to Sowetan Live.
The runners will also be disqualified from the 2024 and 2025 races, said Rowyn James, the Comrades Marathon Association director said.
“They have been disqualified from this Sunday’s 96th Comrades Marathon after it was found that they had supplied false qualifying information,” James said, according to Sowetan Live.
The Comrades Marathon has been occurring since 1921, and the race alternates which way the participants run each year. This year is “down” year, meaning runners will start from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, and run approximately 90 kilometers (55.9 miles) to the coastal city of Durban.
The disqualified runners are members of a variety of clubs, including Phuma KZN AC, Protea Striders, Save Orion AC, Sasolburg AC, Celtic Harriers, Chillie Running Club CG, Chiltern AC, Collegians Harriers, Diepkloof AC, Irene Athletics Club, Jozi X Training, Run Walk For Life NWN, Run Zone AC, SAPG AC, Sunward Striders AC, Team Vitality Club KZN, Thorn Tree Striders, Top Runner AC, and Woodview AC, according to the report. Those clubs have been notified.
“It is incumbent upon every athlete to honor the ethical code and ethos of the sport,” James said. “We promote fair sport and to this end are continuing with investigations into other alleged transgressors, the outcome of which will be announced in due course.”
He elaborated on the allegations, saying runners have had other people run their qualifying times (bib mules) or flat out lie and submit a false time.
James and the race association cross check every entry against the qualifying race’s official results. He also said other runners and race organizers tipped him off to suspicious entries.
“This is why we want to make a statement this year, that cheating is not worth it and that you will get caught,” James said, according to Sowetan Live. “It’s also disrespectful to other fellow runners who do it in a legitimate manner.”
Heather is the former food and nutrition editor for Runner’s World, the author of The Runner’s World Vegetarian Cookbook, and a nine-time marathoner with a best of 3:23. She’s also proud of her 19:40 5K and 5:33 mile. Heather is an RRCA certified run coach.
