The Mexico City Marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label event, was rocked by controversy on August 27, 2023, when an unprecedented 11,000 runners were disqualified for failing to complete the full 42km course. The scandal has raised questions about the integrity of competitive sports and the motivation of the runners who cheated.

The allegations of cheating first surfaced in a report by Spanish newspaper Marca. The report claimed that many runners had skipped certain portions of the course, bypassing crucial checkpoints set every five kilometers. Some runners were even accused of taking to vehicles or public transport to reduce their run.

The race organizers confirmed the allegations and said that they were investigating the matter. They also said that they would be taking steps to prevent cheating in the future.

The cheating scandal is not the first to hit the Mexico City Marathon. In 2017, 6,000 runners were disqualified for cheating, and in 2018, 3,000 runners were disqualified. The persistent cheating scandals have damaged the reputation of the marathon and raised questions about its future.

There are a number of reasons why runners might cheat in a marathon. Some may be simply looking to improve their personal best times, while others may be trying to qualify for elite races. Still others may be motivated by financial rewards or the prestige of winning.

Whatever the reason, cheating is never acceptable and should be punished accordingly. The race organizers should take steps to prevent cheating in the future, such as using more sophisticated tracking technology and increasing the number of checkpoints along the course. They should also work to educate runners about the importance of sportsmanship and fair play.

The cheating scandal at the Mexico City Marathon is a serious issue that undermines the integrity of competitive sports. It is important to take steps to prevent cheating in the future and to ensure that the sport remains fair and competitive for all participants.