Male runners caught competing in the women’s…
Two male runners who have been found fraudulently competing on behalf of feminine colleagues in a top South African marathon have been disqualified and may face two-year bans from the event, along with the two ladies.
The two ladies runners swapped their bibs with the two males, who both completed within the top 10 in the women’s half-marathon at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town last Sunday, initially denying those slots to two feminine runners.
But the dishonest was found by a marathon board member, and the males have been disqualified from their seventh and tenth place finishes. Two ladies have been belatedly acknowledged instead.
Runners line up at the start of the Two Oceans marathon in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 11, 2026. Xinhua/Shutterstock
Larissa Parekh was accused of having Luke Jacobs run on her behalf, and Tegan Garvey was accused of having Nic Bradfield run on her behalf, marathon board member Stuart Mann said.
All 4 runners face disciplinary motion that may embody two-year bans from the event, Mann said.
The annual Two Oceans race is one of South Africa’s iconic marathons and contains a 34.7-mile ultramarathon and a 13.1-mile half-marathon.
The event attracts over 16,000 contributors and ending among the top 10 is a vital achievement for most runners.
Runners take off at the start of the Two Oceans Marathon on April 11, 2026. Xinhua/Shutterstock
Race board member calls swapping bibs unethical
Mann said exchanging bibs has change into more common, and may be dangerous, “Not only is it considered unethical, but it also poses health and medicals risks in case of an emergency, as wrong medication may be administered to a wrong person,” Mann said.
Various motivations are at play, Mann explained.
Some runners give their bib to a stand-in if they’ve a last-minute injury or some other surprising cause why they will’t run in a race they’ve registered for.
Others do so to deceptively earn sooner instances than they in any other case may obtain, to qualify for future races, he said.
South Africa’s Gerda Steyn crosses the end line to win the women’s ultra-marathon title. Xinhua/Shutterstock
Online pictures led to the discovery
Mann was tipped off to one of the swaps after Jacobs posted footage of himself at the race on social media and people observed that his bib displayed the title “Larissa.”
Jacobs said in a written apology: “I made an error in judgment and did not consider the consequences. I should not have taken part.”
Parekh didn’t present any clear clarification of how Jacobs ended up with her bib, Mann said. But Garvey admitted she gave hers to Bradfield, saying in a written assertion that she had suffered a hip drawback before the race.
“The day before, my hip gave in completely, leaving me unable to even walk. I felt bad as to give up my race entry so my friend ran in my place,” Garvey said.
Mann said both ladies have apologized.
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