ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY TOWARD CHEATING IN 2024

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA), in collaboration with its technical officials and race referees, would like to signal its intention to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward the violation of its Race Rules in 2024.

Subsequent to the running of the 2023 event, the CMA identified 58 athletes whose entry to the 2024 edition of the Comrades Marathon have been rejected as a consequence of their violation of the CMA’s race rules.

• The entries of 16 athletes have been rejected after it was discovered that they had asked another athlete to run their 2023 qualifying marathon on their behalf;
• The entries of three athletes have been rejected after it was discovered that they ran the qualifying marathon used by another entrant to enter the 2023 event;
• The entries of 27 athletes have been rejected after it was discovered that they submitted fraudulent qualifying information (i.e. they submitted a time for their qualifying marathon which they did not achieve, either because they did not run/finish the marathon or because they ran slower than the requisite sub4h50 qualifying time);
• The entry of one athlete has been rejected after he ran the 2023 race wearing another athlete’s race number;
• The entries of five athletes have been rejected after they permitted another athlete to run the 2023 race wearing their personal race numbers;
• The entries of two athletes have been rejected after they completed the 2023 race as a relay; and
• The entries of four athletes have been rejected because they took several shortcuts on the journey between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in 2023 on Race Day.

CMA Race & Operations Manager, Ann Ashworth, has warned all entrants to comply with all applicable rules and regulations whenever they participate in an event, which includes all qualifying events and the Comrades Marathon itself.

She says, “Going forward the CMA will be adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards cheating and will seek the strict enforcement of all Race Rules. In particular, we would like to warn all entrants against the submission of inaccurate and/or fraudulent qualifying times, which would include results achieved by a person other than the race entrant. Such behaviour is prohibited in terms of the Race Rules."

Ahead of the running of the 97th edition of the race in 2024, Ashworth has indicated that disciplinary steps may be taken by the CMA against any participant who:

Starts in a seeding batch other than the one allocated to them (as reflected by the alphabetical digit printed on each athlete’s race number), commonly known as “batch jumping”;

• Fails to complete the entire duration of the race route, on foot and as an individual;
• Fails to adhere to the instructions of any race and/or official; and/or
• Damages or destroys property belonging to the CMA, its sponsors, partners, suppliers, staff or volunteers.

The 97th Comrades Marathon will be run on Sunday, 9 June 2024, starting at the Durban City Hall at 05h30 and ending 12 hours later at the HollywoodBets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg. The race distance will be approximately 88km.