Ridiculous: Marathon winner DQ’d for improper bib number

There’s already a thread on this from yesterday. Hardly anyone responded to that either. I would have imagined it would be a bigger story.

I'm not sure how things work in Zimbabwe, but in the USA, if you had confirmation in an email that the race directors approved the bib being worn only on the front, you could sue them and easily get your $4,000 back. It sounds to me like they're just trying to rip him off and save $4,000. He should get the money and if not, no one should ever run this group's races again.

My bad, didn't realize it was posted already.

And to touch on getterfasterdude's point, they're not trying to save the money--I believe they just bumped everyone up a place.

But losing out on tthe world championship qualifier is a little more brutal. He's 33 and this is his first (and you never know, possibly his last) time under the standard.

This is very unfortunate, however I think there is still hope for Mpofu insofar as I think the Zimbabwean federation has put forward an appeal, so I hope Mpofu can get reinstated as the champion and we will see him in Eugene for the WC marathon.

As E.R. would say, "It's an injustice!"

I hope it works out and he gets his money.

That is so unfair!

1. It was the races fault for not providing him the back bib in his packet.

2. He informed them prior to race and was given the ok.

3. Requiring 2 bibs is stupid.

Typical humans, trying to outdo each other with their worship of rules and regulations...(in stupid human voice) - I know he ran faster than everybody else, which is kinda like the main, if not the only, point of having a race...but he violated (well, kinda) a regulation!!!! Therefore, he didn't really run faster than everybody else in the race.

Update with good news:

Isaac Mpofu has been given the victory at the Durban Marathon in 2:10:24 and it is on his World Athletics profile. Furthermore he has been selected to represent Zimbabwe at the World Champs marathon.

Seems like the right decision, so I'm glad he has been rewarded.

Attached below he can be seen on the entry list for the marathon at Worlds: