{"id":118939,"date":"2026-04-25T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/25\/london-marathon-winner-is-now-banned-for-life-and-had-to-pay-back-prize-money\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T08:00:00","slug":"london-marathon-winner-is-now-banned-for-life-and-had-to-pay-back-prize-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/25\/london-marathon-winner-is-now-banned-for-life-and-had-to-pay-back-prize-money\/","title":{"rendered":"London Marathon winner is now banned for life and had to pay back prize money"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_4f8be1\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">A former London Marathon winner received a lifetime ban from the race<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37049809\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"A former London Marathon winner was later banned from the race\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">A former London Marathon winner was later banned from the race<cite aria-label=\"Image: Tom Dulat\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Tom Dulat\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Former London Marathon winner Liliya Shobukhova was ordered to pay back her prize money after receiving a doping ban. The Russian long-distance runner finished first in the marquee London race in 2010.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Shobukhova began her athletic career as a middle-distance runner, earning silver medals at the European Championships and the World Indoor Championships, before moving into marathon racing. She quickly proved to be elite in the discipline, winning her first of three consecutive Chicago Marathon titles in 2009.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The 48-year-old triumphed at the 2010 London Marathon with a time of two hours and 22 minutes, finishing 30 seconds ahead of Ethiopia\u2019s Aselefech Mergia. However, a doping ban later saw <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/other-sports\/athletics\/russian-drug-cheat-liliya-shobukhova-8448442\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Shobukhova stripped of her victory<\/a> and handed a lifetime ban from the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In 2014, the Russian Athletics Federation announced that abnormalities had been discovered in Shobukhova\u2019s biological passport. Consequently, all of her results dating back to October 9, 2009, were annulled.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!<\/strong> <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MirrorSport#\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"\/><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><u>All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The former London Marathon winner was initially handed a 38-month suspension. However, the punishment was reduced by seven months due to her cooperation with the investigation carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_6edd97\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37030863\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/pfa-chief-lifts-lid-london-37030863\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PFA chief lifts lid on London Marathon journey fuelled by family heartbreak<\/a><\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_6edd97\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37045734\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/other-sports\/athletics\/london-marathon-oldest-fauja-singh-37045734\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">World&#8217;s oldest marathon runner revealed the one food he ate daily to survive until 114th birthday<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Shobukhova&#8217;s suspension ended in August 2015. She was later ordered to return the almost \u00a3378,000 earned from her appearance fees and prize money at the London Marathons in 2010 and 2011, when she also finished runner-up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Cheats should not benefit,&#8221; London Marathon Events Ltd chief Nick Bitel said in June 2016. &#8220;It will be a long and difficult process but we will pursue it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Any money we get back will be redistributed to the athletes that Shobukhova cheated out of their rightful dues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37049828\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37049828\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Liliya Shobukhova\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37049828.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-112125601.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37049828.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-112125601.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37049828.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-112125601.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37049828.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-112125601.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Shobukhova was ordered to pay back money she had received from the London Marathon\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Shobukhova was ordered to pay back money she had received from the London Marathon<cite aria-label=\"Image: Dean Mouhtaropoulos\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Dean Mouhtaropoulos\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In addition to her ban from the London Marathon, Shobukhova was barred from the other World Marathon Majors. These included races in Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York City at the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">One of the highlights of her marathon career was setting a Russian record while winning her third Chicago Marathon in 2011. Her time of two hours 18 minutes and 20 seconds made her the second-fastest female marathon runner in history, behind Paula Radcliffe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">British sporting icon <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/other-sports\/athletics\/radcliffe-blasts-2010-london-marathon-3475352\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Radcliffe issued a message on social media about Shobukhova\u2019s ban<\/a> in 2014. The 52-year-old posted on <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/twitter\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Twitter<\/a> that Shobukhova was &#8220;finally exposed as a drug cheat&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The annual TCS London Marathon is set to take place on Sunday, April 26. It will be the 46th edition of the famous race.<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/affiliates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM AffiliateContent_content-details__U6C2M AffiliateContent_has-content-img___LY95\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-image__FxPNL\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article33404045.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM\">\n<div id=\"product-description\" class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside <!-- -->Formula 1, darts and golf.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/other-sports\/athletics\/london-marathon-winner-banned-doping-37049775\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A former London Marathon winner received a lifetime ban from the race A former London Marathon winner was later banned from the race(Image: Tom Dulat\/Getty Images) Former London Marathon winner Liliya Shobukhova was ordered to pay back her prize money after receiving a doping ban. The Russian long-distance runner finished first in the marquee London [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":118940,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[599],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118939"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118939"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118939\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}