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| Sunderland Harriers expel marathon 'cheat' Rob Sloan | Sunderland Harriers expel marathon 'cheat' Rob Sloan |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A runner who was disqualified from a Northumberland marathon after being accused of cheating has been expelled from his athletics club. | A runner who was disqualified from a Northumberland marathon after being accused of cheating has been expelled from his athletics club. |
| Sunderland Harriers said overwhelming evidence supported claims Rob Sloan travelled part of the Kielder Marathon course earlier this month by bus. | |
| Mr Sloan, from Sunderland, earlier told the BBC he was angry over the accusation and that he did not cheat. | Mr Sloan, from Sunderland, earlier told the BBC he was angry over the accusation and that he did not cheat. |
| But the club's executive committee decided Mr Sloan should be thrown out. | But the club's executive committee decided Mr Sloan should be thrown out. |
| Eyewitnesses told race organisers they saw Mr Sloan flag down a bus about 20 miles into the race on 9 October. | Eyewitnesses told race organisers they saw Mr Sloan flag down a bus about 20 miles into the race on 9 October. |
| He was then allegedly seen hiding behind a tree before rejoining the race in the closing stages and crossing the line in third place. | He was then allegedly seen hiding behind a tree before rejoining the race in the closing stages and crossing the line in third place. |
| Steven Cairns of Peebles, Scotland, was later awarded the third prize after Mr Sloan, who joined Sunderland Harriers in June, was disqualified. | Steven Cairns of Peebles, Scotland, was later awarded the third prize after Mr Sloan, who joined Sunderland Harriers in June, was disqualified. |
| 'It's laughable' | |
| Mr Sloan has since returned his third place medal. | Mr Sloan has since returned his third place medal. |
| In a statement, Sunderland Harriers said: "We have expelled forthwith Rob Sloan from membership of the club through his actions during the Kielder Marathon. | In a statement, Sunderland Harriers said: "We have expelled forthwith Rob Sloan from membership of the club through his actions during the Kielder Marathon. |
| "The decision was made at an executive committee meeting, which Mr Sloan failed to turn up for after stating he would attend. | "The decision was made at an executive committee meeting, which Mr Sloan failed to turn up for after stating he would attend. |
| "We apologise again to the Kielder Marathon organisers and especially to third place runner Steve Cairns, whose moment of acclaim was denied." | "We apologise again to the Kielder Marathon organisers and especially to third place runner Steve Cairns, whose moment of acclaim was denied." |
| After the race, former Olympic athlete and event director, Steve Cram, said: "Mr Sloan made a mistake and has apologised to us for the confusion it has caused." | After the race, former Olympic athlete and event director, Steve Cram, said: "Mr Sloan made a mistake and has apologised to us for the confusion it has caused." |
| After being disqualified, Mr Sloan told the BBC: "I'm upset and angry that someone wants to cast these aspersions. | After being disqualified, Mr Sloan told the BBC: "I'm upset and angry that someone wants to cast these aspersions. |
| "It's laughable is what it is, where they've come from I don't know." | "It's laughable is what it is, where they've come from I don't know." |