The Chinese Athletics Association last week decreed that the marathoner known only as “Uncle Chen” had been warned to not chainsmoke cigarettes during his 3:33 finish in the January 7th Xiamen Marathon, per their new code of conduct, but because he didn’t listen they had no choice but to disqualify the 52 year-old’s impressive time afterward, Canadian Running reports.
New rules adopted last year specifically prohibiting “uncivilized behavior from runners such as open defecation, smoking, or trampling on flower beds or green spaces that affect the race and the safety of other runners will result in disqualification” buried Chen’s well-known habit in between other stuff may or may not have been prompted by other participants’ behavior during prior races.