After a two-year hiatus from the operating world, Chinese language marathoner Uncle Chen made his triumphant return on the 2024 Xiamen Marathon on Jan. 7. Nonetheless, Chen’s comeback didn’t go as deliberate. Regardless of ending the race in three hours and 33 minutes, he ended up being disqualified for chain-smoking all through the marathon.
Often called the “Smoking Brother” in China, Uncle Chen’s time was 5 minutes slower than his 3:28 end two years in the past on the 2022 Xin’anjiang Marathon. It seems that the smoking behavior could also be taking a toll on the 52-year-old marathoner.
Pictures of Chen posted on the Chinese language social media app Weibo after the race introduced extra consideration to his smoking in the course of the occasion. The photographs circulated alongside feedback citing an “initiative” issued by authorities two years in the past that explicitly banned smoking in marathons in China. Within the photographs, Uncle Chen is seen with a cigarette in his mouth, whereas sustaining an above-average marathon tempo, seemingly oblivious to different runners (who additionally don’t seem involved).
The Xiamen Marathon organizing committee later issued a press release asserting Chen’s disqualification for smoking in the course of the race. The choice was primarily based on a violation of Article 2.12 within the Xiamen Marathon guidelines and rules, which states, “Uncivilized behaviour from runners reminiscent of open defecation, smoking, or trampling on flower beds or inexperienced areas that have an effect on the race and the protection of different runners will end in disqualification.”
In an effort to advertise wholesome participation and curb smoking throughout road-running occasions, the Chinese language Athletics Affiliation (C.A.A.) carried out a proposal final 12 months, specifying that these failing to adjust to the brand new guidelines at races would face disqualification.
Uncle Chen, recognized for combining his smoking behavior with operating, has been partaking on this unconventional apply for years. Pictures of him smoking whereas operating first surfaced on the 2018 Guangzhou Marathon and the Xiamen Marathon in 2019, the place he completed in 3:36 and three:32, respectively. Notably, Uncle Chen can also be an ultramarathoner, having accomplished occasions starting from 50 km to 12 hours.