Comrades Marathon organisers come down heavily on runners found cheating

The CMA chairperson said it was very disturbing that certain runners are hell-bent on committing crime by telling lies about their qualifying times.

Runners finishing last year’s Comrades Marathon. Picture: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images

Comrades Marathon is about honesty. There is no place for cheats in the event. Race offenders will always be caught and cheating is a crime.

These are some of the words uttered by the Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA) chairperson, Mqondisi “Mapholoba” Ngcobo, on Monday when the organisation officially announced that 25 entrants had been disqualified from this year’s Comrades Marathon.

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Ngcobo said it was very disturbing that certain runners are hell-bent on committing crime by telling lies about their qualifying times.

“We are standing up strongly against cheating. Let me send out another very strong message that cheats are not welcome in this race and we will always catch them,” said Ngcobo.

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Ngcobo said it is very easy to verify the qualifying race records of all the runners because the CMA and FinishTime are partners and also CMA’s IT department can pick up faults or wrongdoing.

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He also indicated that CMA’s IT department spent long hours verifying the data on the culprits.

Unfortunately, to pick up such things and to go over the verifying period can be costly financially and time-wise. You can imagine what our IT department went through
In an unexpected move on Moday, the CMA confirmed that 25 athletes have been disqualified from this Sunday’s 96th Comrades Marathon after it was found that they had supplied false qualifying information.

They will also be suspended from entering the 2024 and 2025 races as a result.

Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) race director, Rowyn James said, “Runners found to have been cheating in any way, be it via submitting false qualifying details or in the race itself are tarnishing the reputation of the sport and the Comrades Marathon Association, as well as disrespecting fellow athletes.”

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It is in this light that the CMA announced the suspension of these 25 entrants who are members of various 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.

These transgressors will not be permitted to participate in the 2023 Comrades Marathon.

The CMA has also notified the respective athletes and their running clubs’ management of the disqualifications. James said, “The CMA will not tolerate cheating in any form.

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It is incumbent upon every athlete to honour the ethical code and ethos of the sport. 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.”