Mexico Marathon disqualifies 11,000 of their 30,000 runners after finding THOUSANDS cheated, including using cars and public transport mid-race, by investigating their electronic trackers
Organisers investigated complaints that runners failed to complete the course
Mexico Marathon organisers examined electronic tracking data from the event
Thousands of runners have previously been disqualified from the annual race
Organisers of the Mexico Marathon have reportedly disqualified 11,000 runners after electronic trackers revealed the participants had not completed the full course.
Over 30,000 runners participated at the 40th anniversary edition of the race in Mexico City on August 27.
Mexico Marathon organisers were forced to investigate anonymous complaints from participants post-race.
Complaints alleged thousands of runners had not completed the full distance, according to Marca.
Runners were accused of using vehicles and public transport during the race to shorten the 26.22-mile course.
An investigation using data from the runners' electronic trackers reportedly revealed that thousands had not passed through checkpoints on the route.
The Mexico City Sports Institute confirmed it had launched an investigation into the situation.
The Mexico City Sports Institute informs that it will proceed to identify those cases in which participants of the XL Mexico City Marathon Telcel 2023 have demonstrated an unsportsmanlike attitude during the event and will invalidate their registration times,' the statement read.
'This great event not only represents an outstanding celebration for all the inhabitants of the capital, but also an occasion to reaffirm the transcendental values of sport.'
Several runners have reportedly claimed that their electronic tracker had not worked properly, leading to their times not being recorded accurately as they passed through checkpoints.
It is not the first time the Mexico Marathon has been forced to disqualify runners for cheating.
Nearly 6,000 runners were disqualified in the 2017 race, with 20 per cent of the field failing to complete the full course.
Organisers annulled the results of a further 3,090 runners following the 2018 race.
The Mexico Marathon holds World Athletics Gold Label Status, the second highest status awarded to road running events by the governing body.
Organisers say the status highlights the event's 'quality and professionalism' in Latin America.
A World Athletics spokesperson told Mail Sport: 'It is always disappointing to hear that people choose to cheat in our sport, such as the cheating that occurred in the mass race at the Mexico City Marathon on August 27.
'However, many race organisers use mass timing detection systems in today’s races and their effectiveness can be seen with the race organisers of this event who had the proper checkpoints in place, and have taken appropriate action by swiftly disqualifying all athletes who chose to cheat.'
This year’s men’s elite race was won by Bolivia’s Hector Garibay in a time of 2:08:23, while Celestine Chepchirchir of Kenya triumphed in the women’s in 2:27:17.
All finishers at the Mexico Marathon receive a medal, which this year included Mexico City's Latin American Tower on its design.
posted Saturday September 9th