4-time World Marathon Majors Runner-up Abderrahim Goumri Has Died At Age 36

By LetsRun.com
January 19, 2013

4-time world marathon majors runner-up Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco has died at age 36 according to the Moroccan MAP News agency. Goumri was killed in a car accident.

An additional report says the accident occured between Rabat and Temara and that runners Youssef Baba and Rashid Ramzi were also involved. Ramzi, who was briefly the 2008 Olympic 1,500 champ before an EPO bust, and Baba, who was an Olympic 1,500 finalist in 2000, have been taken Ibn Sina Hospital in Rabat to receive care.

Before moving up to the marathon, Goumri had success on the track as he ran 12:50 and 27:02 in 2005. His transition to the marathon was immediately successful. He actually made his debut in the same race as Ryan Hallthe 2007 London marathon – where Goumri ran 2:07:44 and finished 2nd. He’d go on to finish as the runner-up in New York later that year before running his PR and a then Moroccan national record of 2:05:30 in getting third at London in 2008 (he no longer has the record it’s now 2:05:27). He was runner-up again in New York that fall before finishing as the runner-up to Sammy Wanjiru at the Chicago marathon in 2009.

Goumri was busted as a drug cheat in the summer of 2012 due to irregularities in his biological passport. To be truthful, the bust didn’t surprise us. In 2009, we pointed out that Goumri’s bio promoted the fact that he came from the Olympique de Safi club – the same club that EPO cheats in former steeplechase world record holder Brahim Boulami and temporary 2008 Olympic 1,500 Olympic champ Rashid Ramzi came from.

Article continues below player.

Note, Moroccan media is saying Goumri was 35 but we believe he is 36 as tilastapaja.org lists his birth date at May 21, 1976.

Update on 1/20 at 2:36 pm ET: NYRR head Mary Wittenberg has tweeted out the following statement: “R.I.P. Goumri. A top marathoner & runner up in NYC. big smile & warm heart. made mistakes & now lost life & chance to redeem himself.”

More: *MB Thread: oumri killed in car accident, Ramzi and Baba critically injured
*2012: MB Thread: Drug Cheat Abderrahim Goumri finally caught!
*
2009: Chicago marathon preview here we pointed out Goumri’s Ties to Boulami and Ramzi
*2008 London Marathon Photos of Goumri and Hall’s debut

Abderrahim Goumri at the 2008 Healthy Kidney 10k.
Want More? Join The Supporters Club Today
Support independent journalism and get:
  • Exclusive Access to VIP Supporters Club Content
  • Bonus Podcasts Every Friday
  • Free LetsRun.com Shirt (Annual Subscribers)
  • Exclusive Discounts
  • Enhanced Message Boards