Two men have been disqualified from South Africa's iconic Two Oceans Marathon after finishing in the top 10 of the women's race. Luke Jacobs and Nic Bradfield placed seventh and 10th respectively in the women's event held in Cape Town on April 12, but their results were voided when it was discovered they had swapped identification bibs with female participants.

Stuart Mann, a board member of the marathon who helped uncover the deception, stated that this cheating overshadowed the performances of honest runners. Mann was alerted to one swap after Jacobs posted pictures on social media showing himself with a bib bearing the name "Larissa," which was noticed by observers. Further investigation revealed Jacobs used a bib registered to Larissa Parekh, while Bradfield competed with a number assigned to Tegan Garvey.

Mann emphasized that bib swapping is not only unethical but also poses health and medical risks, as incorrect treatment could be administered to the wrong person in an emergency. He explained that motivations for such practices vary, including avoiding financial loss due to injury or seeking faster times to qualify for future races.

Modern sports technology played a crucial role in exposing the fraud: although officials watched the first 10 women cross the finish line, data from chips in the bibs indicated two other women had also finished, leading to the discrepancy. Garvey admitted to giving her bib to a friend after suffering a hip problem before the race.

Jacobs issued a written apology, saying, "I made an error in judgment and did not consider the consequences. I should not have taken part." Parekh did not provide a clear explanation for her actions, but both women have apologized and face two-year bans from the Two Oceans Marathon. The male participants will undergo disciplinary processes by the marathon's disciplinary subcommittee.

Source: www.aljazeera.com