A female competitor in China was banned from an international marathon for life after she was spotted riding a bicycle for parts of the race.
The runner wearing a vest numbered D2113, who remains unnamed, finished the Xuzhou International Marathon in Jiangsu Province with a time of 5 hours, 38 minutes and 36 seconds, Qianjiang Evening News reported.
At the marathon that saw about 22,000 people take part, the runner was seen using a green bicycle in many different sections of the marathon. When she took only 7 minutes and 10 seconds to finish the final 2.195 kilometers of the marathon, she raised a lot of eyebrows.
The Xuzhou International Marathon Committee issued a notice on March 26, stating that runner D2113 had been disqualified after using prohibited tools despite being warned against doing so during the race. Her result was nullified and she was given a lifetime ban from participating in any future marathon organized by the committee.
Infuriated Internet commentators described the runner’s behavior as a disgrace that made a mockery of the marathon.
