Marathon cheats caught

Race organisers found video footage that revealed some runners had carried the time-recording microchips of others so that one runner would register two or more results on passing the finish line. Others made their way around at least some of the course in vehicles, while some hired imposters.

All the runners were ranked in top 100 of the men's race at the January 2 event in the south-eastern port city, according to the Jiefang Daily newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Shanghai Communist Party.

The report suggested the cheats were not professional athletes but students. Most had times under two hours 34 minutes, which is the minimum standard required for high school students to get extra credits for China's highly competitive college entrance examinations.

The marathon is one of the biggest in the world, attracting 48,000 participants this year. It is one of only 24 IAAF Gold Label Road Races, along with prestigious events such as the London, New York and Tokyo marathons.

The 2010 men's race was won by Feyisa Lilesa of Ethopia in two hours, eight minutes, 47 seconds, while his compatriot Atsede Baysa won the women's race in 2:28.53.