A large group of people running on a road during a marathon. File picture. Picture: Doctor Ngcobo, African News Agency (ANA)
Durban – The KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) has completed the initial investigations into alleged cheating in this year’s Comrades Marathon.
KZNA says a total of nine runners stand to be disqualified from the 2022 race.
According to the athletics body, the majority of misdemeanours relate to athletes not running the entire 90km course, allowing other athletes to run with their race bibs and providing incorrect qualification information.
“These athletes are being sent official communication and will be given seven days to respond to the KZNA notification. Should the athlete dispute the findings, KZNA will undertake a formal disciplinary hearing.
“Some athletes are charged with multiple offences, some of which originated in qualification or other events and will be disciplined on each offence,” said KZNA president Steve Mkasi.
Ugly spectre of cheating: Comrades reveals 9 runners face disqualification @Tshiliboy story:https://t.co/dqQNKmgCxN via @TimesLIVE
— Marc Strydom (@marc_strydom) November 21, 2022
Mkasi says if the athletes accept the findings, they will be informed of the discipline procedures to be applied.
He said these measures include, but are not restricted to: being removed from the 2022 Comrades Marathon Results, a period of suspension from all Athletics events and forfeiture of previous events where they have been found to breech athletics rules.
“Additionally, the runner will be required to return the 2022 Comrades Marathon medal/s.
“As the provincial athletics body in KwaZulu-Natal, we would like to send a clear message to athletes to desist from cheating in any form. These investigations are in line with us standing up for the rules of the sport and not condoning cheating in any form,” said Mkasi.