11,000 Runners Disqualified from Mexico City Marathon Amid Cheating Scandal
MEXICO CITY — In a shocking revelation, it has been discovered that nearly one-third of the participants in last month’s Mexico City Marathon were disqualified due to cheating, prompting organizers to take swift action.
Out of the 30,000 runners who took part in the race on August 27, a staggering 11,000 were found to have failed to complete the required distance, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the event. The disqualifications were primarily based on tracking data, which revealed that some participants had bypassed significant sections of the 26.2-mile course. Furthermore, complaints were lodged alleging that certain runners resorted to using public transportation, vehicles, and even bicycles to complete the marathon.
The tracking data also revealed that numerous runners failed to register at the designated checkpoints, which are strategically placed every five kilometers along the course.
In response to this alarming situation, organizers released a statement to the Spanish newspaper Marca, stating, “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.” They went on to emphasize the significance of the event, saying, “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.”
It is worth noting that the Mexico City Marathon has faced cheating controversies in the past. In 2017, more than 6,000 runners were disqualified from the race and consequently did not receive medals for their participation. The following year, almost 3,100 participants faced disqualification as well. These recurring incidents of cheating have raised questions about the marathon’s ability to maintain the integrity of its competition.