JOHANNESBURG — Two male runners have been stripped of their finishes at a major South African marathon after officials discovered they competed using women’s race numbers, bumping legitimate female competitors from top-10 positions.
Luke Jacobs and Bradfield crossed the finish line in seventh and tenth place respectively in the women’s division of the Two Oceans Marathon held April 12 in Cape Town. Their fraudulent scheme was exposed by race officials who noticed irregularities in timing data.
The Two Oceans event stands as one of South Africa’s most celebrated running competitions, featuring both a 56-kilometer ultramarathon and a 21.1-kilometer half-marathon that draws more than 16,000 participants annually. Securing a top-10 finish represents a major accomplishment for most competitors.
Stuart Mann, a board member for the Two Oceans Marathon who helped expose the fraud, said both men will undergo formal disciplinary proceedings through the race’s disciplinary committee.
According to Mann, the practice of switching race numbers between participants has grown increasingly common, though it carries serious risks beyond simple cheating.
“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 explained.
Mann noted that runners exchange bibs for various reasons, including avoiding financial losses when injury prevents participation or attempting to record faster qualifying times for future competitions.
The investigation began when Jacobs shared race photos on social media platforms, prompting observers to notice his bib displayed the name “Larissa.” Further inquiry revealed Jacobs had used credentials belonging to Larissa Parekh, who was registered for the women’s competition.
“I made an error in judgment and did not consider the consequences. I should not have taken part,” Jacobs wrote in his public apology.
Modern race technology ultimately exposed both cheaters when electronic chips embedded in the bibs recorded data showing two additional women had completed the course, despite officials only observing the first 10 female finishers crossing the line.
This discrepancy led to the discovery that Bradfield had competed using a number assigned to Tegan Garvey, who later acknowledged giving away her bib due to a hip injury sustained before race day.
“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 stated.
While Parekh has not provided a detailed explanation for her involvement, Mann confirmed both women have issued apologies and will face two-year suspensions from participating in the Two Oceans Marathon. The female runners who were initially displaced have since been properly recognized for their authentic achievements.
