Comrades Marathon athletes suspended

Runners take part in the 89km Comrades Marathon between Pietermaritzburg and Durban on June 10, 2018.The annual ultra marathon this year attracted over 20,000 runners from around the world.
RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP

Comrades Marathon: 25 athletes disqualified and suspended

Just days before this year’s Comrades Marathon, 25 athletes have been disqualified and suspended from the next two races.

Comrades Marathon athletes suspended

Runners take part in the 89km Comrades Marathon between Pietermaritzburg and Durban on June 10, 2018.The annual ultra marathon this year attracted over 20,000 runners from around the world.
RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has confirmed that at least 25 athletes have been disqualified from this year’s 96th race  after it was found that they had supplied false qualifying information.

The annual race between Durban and Pietermaritzburg will take place on Sunday, 11 June 2023. 

ATHLETES SUSPENDED FROM COMRADES MARATHON 

The athletes will not only be disqualified but they will also be suspended from entering the 2024 and 2025 races as a result.

Comrades Marathon Association 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 association as well as disrespecting fellow athletes. 

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The 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.

The association has also notified the respective athletes and their running clubs’ management of the disqualifications. 

James said the Comrades Marathon Association will not tolerate cheating in any form. 

“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.”

Comrades Marathon athletes disqualified
Prudence was asked for her hand in marriage by runner Joseph Kagiso Ndlovu during the Comrades Marathon in 2022. PHOTO: Twitter/@ZolaAmanda

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ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS YEAR’S RACE

This year’s race is a ‘down run’ between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, will take place on Sunday, 11 June.

Both the men’s and women’s winners will pocket a cool R500 000 – a whopping 92% increase on last year’s R260 000 winners’ cheques.

In addition, should the winners of each race break the current ‘down’ records, they will earn an extra R500 000.

ALSO READ: Comrades Marathon: Massive prize money hike for 2023 race: Winners get R500 000

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