BCTTT Forum

by **jac** » 21 Jan 2010 13:37

Andy, you're not planning to copy this lot are you...? :lol:

More than 30 competitors at the Xiamen International marathon earlier this month have had their results cancelled because of cheating, some having hired imposters to run for them.
All the runners were ranked in top 100 of the men's race at the January 2 event in the south-eastern port city, according to the Jiefang Daily newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Shanghai Communist Party.
Organisers found video footage which revealed that some runners had carried the time-recording microchips of others so that one runner would register two or more results on passing the finish line, the report said.
Others made their way around at least some of the course in vehicles, while some hired imposters, it added.
The motivation for the cheating was not necessarily just for prestige, the report suggested, noting that most of the cheats had times under two hours 34 minutes.
That is the minumum standard required for high school students to get extra credits for China's highly competitive college entrance examinations.

by **andyb99** » 21 Jan 2010 14:30

hahaha, thats excellent...no this race is strictly against myself so getting somebody to do it for me will kinda defeat the object

by **jonathon.e** » 21 Jan 2010 15:25

I would like to think that most race officials would use a bit of disgression about enforcing the 'No outside assistance' rule except for the designated special needs station,if you were in line for a top AG position and a place at Kona then it would be enforced,if someone is running along side you so you make the cuttoff before the end then they are possibly glad that the course is being cleared quicker.......but as triathlon is an individual sport(other than usual exceptions),then does having someone run beside you not negate the individual aspect as you had help.

Then all it would take would be for another competitor to complain that your wife/partner impeded their progress during the run,the official might then have to take the hard line approach.
So after swimming 2.4 miles,biking 112 miles,completing the 26.2 mile crawl within the cuttoff an official comes upto you and says'sorry mate your wife obstructed another runner,we have to disqualify you,now hand back the medal'.It kind off might piss you off and create a nice domestic incident at the finish line.

It might seem extreme but a few years back there was an American Triathlete by the name of Chuckie V. At one race he was having a really bad day,so instead of calling it quits he decided to stroll back to the finish and on the way chat to some of the spectators and his fans,being a popular character on the tri scene.During the stroll back he accepted a can of lager from one of the spectators,this was seen by an official as accepting outside assistance and got a DQ for the race.He wasn't going to win the race or even be in the prize money,but he went outside the rules and going outside the rules means cheating,which doesn't look to good with the old sponsers.

On a personal note,during a marathon I often noticed a man and woman overtake me at regular intervals through the race,thinking nothing of it until the man pulled out of a side street driving a car.The female was running just a few seconds slower per mile but would overtake me when her pacer joined in,Over the last 3 miles he paced her towards the finish line and then pulled out about half a mile to go,her pace dropped off and I finished just ahead of her.
A couple of days later I am reading the Yorkshire Post and see a picture of the female celebrating crossing the finish line,in under 3hr15m.This time gave her automatic entry into the London Marathon,which is also a qualifying race for GB athletes.Without the pacer she would not have qualified.It kind of grieves me that it goes on.Did she cheat????

by **Tritans** » 21 Jan 2010 15:49

Andy, it's been a while since I read those reports, but I think I remember they involved The Vit where it's 2 lap race and the person who ran alongside, was a mate of his /hers who'd already finnished, then ran the final lap agian (don't you just hate some people :lol:

) alongside his mate.

Bearing in mind these are hardly elites we're talking about here I think some leinency was shown, and rightly so.

by **TRIumphant** » 21 Jan 2010 15:57

If I remember rightly, at the Big Woody last year, one Tri'er was strugging with the run. So one of the uber-fit boys who had finishes sometime earlier, showered, changed, been out for a meal, and come back to see the final finishers felt sorry for him and ran the second half of the marathon with him to make sure he finished within the time constraint.

On the issue of family members on the finish line, you're no longer allowed to pick up the kids in the finishing chute so they can cross the line with you and be included within your photo. It's a DQ, and also concerns that if you've got the masses with you, then it could screw up someone elses finish / photo.

by **Tritans** » 21 Jan 2010 16:02

Ah you may well be right, that does ring a bell. I don't think pacing was an issue in this case.

by **Jellybaby** » 21 Jan 2010 16:16

At the Big woody, however, you are allowed people to run with you after dark - says so in the rules (I checked cos I wasn't 100% sure I'd make it round the little woody before nightfall! :lol:

by **TRIumphant** » 21 Jan 2010 16:23

IMUK Run rule 3 states "This is an INDIVIDUAL event. No individual support vehicles or non-athlete escort runners are allowed. Teamwork as a result of outside assistance that provides an advantage over single athletes is not allowed. Ample feed stations will be provided. Individual support vehicles or non-athlete escort runners will result in disqualification. A non-athlete escort runner includes athletes who have withdrawn from the race, have been disqualified or have finished the race. Friends, family members, coaches or supporters of any type may not bike, drive or run alongside athlete, may not pass food or other items to athlete and should be warned to stay completely clear of all athletes to avoid disqualification. It is incumbent upon each athlete to reject immediately any attempt to assist, follow or escort."