Russian long-distance runner Liliya Shobukhova has been ordered to repay £377 000 to London Marathon organisers for doping. The British High Court judgement commands Shobukhova to repay the prize money, plus costs relating to her 2010 marathon win and a second-place finish in 2011 in the British capital.
Cheated Athletes Receive Money
London Marathon Events Chief Executive, Nick Bitel, said that they are determined that cheats should not benefit. It would be a difficult and a long process, but they will pursue it. Bitel further noted that any money repaid by the athlete will be redistributed to all athletes that were cheated out of their rightful dues.
The 38-year-old was stripped of her 2009-2011 Chicago Marathon wins when the Russian Federation initially gave her a two-year ban for doping and she was instructed to forfeit her prize money. Later, her two-year ban was reduced by seven months after she assisted the World Anti-Doping Agency with the investigation.
Liliya Shobukhova Banned for Life
The Russian runner has been banned for life from all six of the major World Marathons, including London Marathon.
The Court of Arbitration for Sports received a four-year ban appeal from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). A reimbursement was reached last month for Shobukhova to serve a three-year, two-month suspension during March 2016.
Shobukhova’s International Competition Wins
- 2005 – She won the European Cup in a 5000 m race
- 2005 – She won the European Cross Country Championships in a Team race
Marathons Wins
- 2009 – She won the Chicago Marathon but she was disqualified
- 2010 – London and Chicago Marathon, but disqualified
- 2011 – Chicago Marathon, but she was also disqualified
