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Sunderland Harriers expel marathon 'cheat' Rob Sloan | Sunderland Harriers expel marathon 'cheat' Rob Sloan |
(about 7 hours 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. | Sunderland Harriers said overwhelming evidence supported claims Rob Sloan travelled part of the Kielder Marathon course earlier this month by bus. |
Mr Sloan had denied the accusations but was disqualified. He then returned his bronze medal. | |
This has now been presented to Steven Cairns of Peebles, Scotland. | |
Former Olympic runner Steve Cram handed it over to Mr Cairns, 43, during a ceremony which took place on board an open-top bus in Edinburgh on Wednesday. | |
The constable with Lothian and Borders Police said: "I think it was just a moment of madness for the guy who said he was third. | |
"I think he just wanted his T-shirt and medal but did not realise he was third and he just had to play along with it." | |
He added: "It's great to have met Steve [Cram]. | |
"For him to have come up and present the medal in person just tops the performance on the day." | |
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. |
'It's laughable' | 'It's laughable' |
He was then allegedly seen hiding behind a tree before rejoining the race in the closing stages and crossing the line in third place. | |
But the Sunderland Harriers' executive committee decided Mr Sloan, who had joined the club in June, should be thrown out. | |
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." |