Cheating In Malaysia Sports Scene

Over the years of being involved in sports and races, I always have the impression that many does it to challenge themselves. My first encounter with the cheating competitor happened about 7 or 8 years back when a senior veteran racer was caught cheating by cycling one loop less by race official. Apparently, it wasn't the first time he did it and subsequently, he disappear from the racing scene after being banned and/or out of embarrassment. 

Then we have a lady that really did made herself known among the racing community by doing the same thing in most races she enters - with the most recent one in Batu Caves Tanggathon. Other racers lodged complains but the organiser did nothing. She is a podium winner most of the time.

Then, yesterday morning, I received an email from a fellow runner on his observation of one individual that (I would like to add : ALLEGEDLY) cheat organisers and runners. His antic were apparently known among his friends and he has openly claimed it in his own Facebook timeline. 

Below is the fellow runner, that made the observation email to me (and maybe to a few others as well). I have removed the name of the person, his race number and even the color of racing shirt he was wearing and will not show any photos. I wish I could present it as how i received the email, but i would like to provide some benefit of doubt. 

I have gotten advices from a fellow friend that are practicing lawyer and he had warned me about possible litigation if this is proven untrue. Again, let me put on record, and as you can read it here, unless the person stated in this email "feel the heat", there is absolutely no reason for him to react if he did not cheat. 

In fact, I am and will publish (if he wish) his reasoning if he choose to contact me. 

Start of Email:

I’ve been thinking of highlighting this issues since last year , but am just not sure who is the right person to write to.

There’s a really unhealthy scenarios that’s been going on in the Running Scene at the moment that  never thought / even crossed my mind that a Reasonable Man have the pride to do this. I WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND , and after close monitoring , I witnessed it by myself .

It’s a very simple case :

People are cheating the organizers and took the advantage and making profit out of it and even can announce it in FB ( TO HIS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS )

This is how it goes .

Name :

1.       Name :  XXX XXX                                   

Facebook Name : YYY YYY  ( I’m sure you knew this guy ) NOT  a good runner , especially in Long Distance , as he can’t even run for a 8KM  . Manage to do only the Sprint Category in Powerman . Not a thriathlete too..

2.     Modus Operandi :-

Tactic 1 :

He registered for the Lowest Distance ( like I said he can’t even run 21KM) so most of the time opt for 10KM Race

Ex : SCKLM 2012 : Registered for 10KM Run   , received original Bib Number for 10KM Distance – so he will start with the 10KM Runners , ( usually he will hide his bib under his shirt ) no issue huh ? wait . MOST OF HIS PICTURES , you hardly can’ t see his bib !

But , before the finishing line when the Runners merged , he will change the Bib to a FM Bib – SAME Color WITH OTHERS FM RUNNERS  , but believe it or not , theNumber either doesn’t exist or it’s his fren’s number ..

How he get the FM Bib ? he SCANNED it !!!!! Trust me , all his friend knew his work  and he can sell fake Bibs to others too.. No wonder at times we faced not enough water etc.. if we have Fake Runners in the Run.

**Look at SCKLM12  Pic – the one regs K1-1XXX8 ( 10KM Run ) – wears it clearly. Then at the fInishing line ( in XXX tshirt – CHANGE TO  A1XX6 ( FM Bib ) – Hide it under the Tshirt

**PBIM 12 – A03XX – looks at his BIB – hide under the shirt & compared with the original bib from the guy next to him ? this is 100m to the finishing line.

Why he did it ?

Because :

Wanted not only the Medal , but the Goody Bags & most important THE FINISHER TEE …so that he can sell the Tee’s at the office & also to all his fren’s who never did a FM , but wants to wear a FM Finisher Tee shirt . ( there are people who has no PRIDE in buying this )

Tactic 2.

Not only cheated the Organizer by fake BIB , he will have the bib insert in Plastic , so that he can collect the goody bags ( or the wife will go for the second round ) as when we tick the Bib for the first time , we tick on the Plastic , so he can go again and again and collect the goody bags. Checkout his pic – all his bib will be in Plastics

I attached herewith a few pics , he ran with a FM Bib ,  I caught him twice , SCKLM12 and PBIM 12 – you can check the name on the bib ..

He also used shortcut during Multi Purpose Ran  , MILO Run ( even for 8KM )  and other runs.. For both run he collected goody bags more than one. It’s even uploaded in his FB .

The Latest “ Also he Ran 7km in the latest Mizuno , half way wore the bib after both distance runner merge before the Finishing line – so he finished as a 16KM Runners.  Pictures attached .

I just feel that’s its  not fair , others have all their pain to cross the finishing line , whereas they are people using FAKE BIB in the run  and went back with a FM Finisher Tee.

End Of Email

While there are a few moments of conspiracy theory in the email, it could be differences in opinion between the writer and the alledged cheater. I try to be as objective as possible. Looking at the photos, it did look legit and the writer did shown that he has taken the effort to check and observe before emailing me. One of the most damning evidence was how the alledged cheater wore a 10km race bib at the start and finished with a Full Marathon race bib at the end. This is in the same race mind you and was photographed by the usual event volunteer photographer. 

For my own curiousity and to help myself verify what I read, I did a bit of checking myself. I ran his name on the SCKLM 2012 results page and the recent Mizuno 2013 run - I could not locate his name in any category, including the allegedly registered 10K race for SCKLM 2012, meaning, if he indeed did register, he definitely did not finish the race, but why? I would very much hope and wish my name/bib/race record at 10, 21, 30 and 42km are well documented. For him, there is no record, and why the extra effort on TWO numbers? 

The other races would require me to enter his IC number, which I do not have, and can't verify the status. So, do practice some level of objectivity when you read the above email sent to me.

I went to the Facebook page but because we are not connected, I only see limited photos and could not verify some of the claims above; or are they removed since the allegation against him has came to his knowledge?

Suffice to say I WILL lose my respect for this person cheating if the allegations are true. He looked like a nice guy and perhaps even a motivator/inspirer based on the races he enters and his size that will make people to respect him. 

Perhaps, luckily, I actually do not know him other than seeing him before with some acquaintances (which by the way, belong to a local group). This person ( that allegedly cheats) share 62 "mutual friends" with me. I wonder if these mutual friends are aware of this happening. 

Maybe they do, and they see no harm in doing this. (?)

Same reason I am against "bib trading". By selling and buying bibs not registered under your name will cause many issues and this is also considered as cheating. Perhaps this chap was running with a "legit" bib that belongs to a friend. I could not prove if this person "scanned and trade" bibs, but the writer did mentioned it was blatantly displayed and known amongst his friends (in Facebook)

Again, if this allegation is true, then it is really sad to see non-podium winner, everday Joe, cheat and the whole idea is to collect the t-shirts and goody bags, and even sell those t-shirts to those that are interested (or want to claim to had run a 42km race). Why?

Remember, the (legit) participants registered and paid up are subsidizing these cheaters' while the organisers are suffering some losses due to this practice. 

So, where do you, as an individual, stand in this?

And, do you know him? Maybe some of you do. 

Having said that, if the alledgation is indeed true, and whoever reads it saw it fits into the person, or the person himself know this is about him - doesn't it show a certain degree of...truth?

Have a good day. Mine is pretty "blah" knowing about this today.