Banned Russian London marathon cheat ordered to pay back nearly £400k prize money

Cheat: Liliya Shobukhova was banned by the IAAF in August 2015 after abnormalities were found in her biological passport
Jed Leicester/Getty Images
Hannah Al-Othman19 July 2016

A banned athlete who won the London Marathon in 2010 and came second in 2011 has been ordered to pay back her prize money.

Russian athlete Liliya Shobukhova was banned by the IAAF in August 2015 after abnormalities were found in her biological passport, and all her results from 9 October 2009 were annulled.

Following her ban, London Marathon Events Ltd has obtained a judgment from the High Court ordering her to return her prize money.

The judgment requires Shobukhova to repay £377,961.62 in prize and appearance money plus costs to London Marathon Events Ltd, which was given to her for the 2010 and 2011 London Marathons.

Banned: Shobukhova has been ordered to pay back her prize money 
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Shobukova has also been banned for life from taking part in the London Marathon and in any of the five other marathons that make up the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which include the New York City Maraton, the Berlin Marathon, and the Boston Marathon.

Nick Bitel, Chief Executive of London Marathon Events Ltd, said: “The next step is to get the judgment enforced in Russia. It will be a long and difficult process but we will pursue it as we are determined that cheats should not benefit.

“Any money we get back will be redistributed to the athletes that Shobukhova cheated out of their rightful dues.

Winner: Shobukhova came first in 2011 
Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

“We are determined to make marathon running a safe haven from doping. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure cheats are caught and do not benefit from cheating.

“In addition to testing operated by the IAAF and national federations, the Abbott World Marathon Majors has set up one of the largest private testing pool of athletes in sport, with 150 competitors being tested out of competition a minimum of six times a year for their unique athlete biological passport.”

After Shobukhova's results were annulled, Ethiopian Aselefech Mergia was named the winner of the 2010 marathon.

The 2011 results were also updated, naming Kenyan Edna Kiplagat in second place behind fellow Kenyan winner Mary Keitany, with Ethiopian Bezunesh Bekele in third.

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