A runner who stopped during a marathon in China to pose performing the splits, as well as another who hoarded energy gels, were banned for two years, according to the local sporting association on Thursday.
The instances occurred during the marathon on Sunday in the southwestern city of Chengdu, Sichuan Province’s capital, and were extensively reported online.
A woman runner was seen in videos abruptly halting and sliding to the ground with her legs in a perfect split stance, holding up her arms in a heart form as if posing for a portrait.
“(She) committed obstructive fouls during the race, affecting the safe participation of other runners,” the Sichuan Athletics Association said in a statement, which identified the runner by her surname, Wang.
A viral photo also showed a man in a neon yellow shirt carrying a translucent drawstring backpack filled to the brim with energy gel packets and other food items, all of which appeared to have been taken from race supply points.
The male racer, surnamed Zhang, had “illegally taken a large quantity of race supplies for personal use,” the group stated.
According to the report, both have been barred from competing in Sichuan marathons for the next two years.
This was to “enforce race discipline, maintain a fair competition environment… and ensure the safe and orderly conduct of the event.
Previous occurrences involved marathon participants getting on rented bikes and using shortcuts.
