Men disqualified for competing as women in South African marathon

Two men, Luke Jacobs and Nic Bradfield, were disqualified from the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town after they finished in the top 10 of the women's race. Their disqualification followed a bib swap that allowed them to compete under the names of registered female runners. The incident, which occurred on April 12, was uncovered by marathon board member Stuart Mann, who noted that the two women runners who were displaced were subsequently recognized for their legitimate finishes.

Jacobs finished seventh and Bradfield finished tenth, but their results were invalidated after the deception was revealed. Mann stated, "Swapping bibs is unethical and risky," highlighting the potential health risks involved in such actions. The practice of bib swapping is becoming more common, with motivations ranging from financial concerns to the desire for faster qualifying times.

The situation escalated when Jacobs posted photos on social media that revealed his bib bore the name 'Larissa.' Further investigation uncovered that Jacobs had used a bib assigned to Larissa Parekh, while Bradfield competed with a number belonging to Tegan Garvey, who had given up her bib due to a hip injury. Both women have apologized and face potential two-year bans from the marathon. Mann emphasized that the incident overshadowed the achievements of honest runners and will lead to disciplinary processes for Jacobs and Bradfield.