China targets marathon cheats with lifetime bans

China will ban marathon cheats for life to clamp down on scandals that have dogged the fast-growing sport, which attracted three million participants nationwide last year.

The Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) said in a statement late on Monday that people who run under false names or cheat in other ways, such as replacing a runner with another person during the race or having more than one identifying PIN chip, will be immediately banned.

First-time offenders will receive a lifetime ban from the race in question. A second offense will result in a lifetime suspension from all Chinese marathons.