Anyang Marathon Bans Three Runners for Life Over Bib Transfer Violations

Organizers of the 2026 Anyang Marathon have imposed lifetime bans on three runners after finding that they transferred their race bibs to other people.

The punishment came after online posts questioned why the winner of the women's Anyang-resident award appeared to be male in race photos.

The Anyang Marathon organizing committee said in a penalty notice issued on April 17 that an internal review found runners, identified only by their surnames Sang, Cheng and Liu, had violated race rules during the March 22 event by allowing others to compete under their bib numbers.

Under the competition rules for the 2026 race, the organizers said they had canceled the three runners' results and rankings, barred them for life from taking part in the Anyang Marathon and asked the Chinese Athletics Association to consider additional punishment.

The controversy erupted after the event's award list released on April 14 triggered online questions. Social media users said the bib belonging to the winner of the women's half marathon Anyang-resident category had been seen on a male runner during the race, raising suspicions of a substitute runner.

The 2026 Anyang Marathon was billed as Henan Province's first large-scale marathon of the year. Organizers said about 26,000 runners took part in the event, which included marathon and half marathon races.

Before the dispute, the organizing committee had said the first-place finisher in the women's half marathon Anyang-resident category would receive a prize of 1,000 yuan.