Chinese fitness influencer Abeeeer has been disqualified from the 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon after photographs and split-time data proved she hitched a ride on a bicycle during the 42.2-kilometre race. She subsequently issued a public apology on RedNote, admitting to taking an unauthorized shortcut.
How the Berlin Marathon Cheating Scandal Unfolded
More than 56,000 runners from 162 countries entered this year’s Berlin Marathon, drawn to what is known as the flattest and fastest course among the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Approximately 50,000 participants crossed the finish line on September 27. Among them was a runner registered under bib number Yuanyuan Sun of China, who initially recorded an official finishing time of 4:53:46.
However, irregularities surfaced when the Official Marathon Time Integrity Unit (OMTIU)—an account founded by two Australian runners that tracks misleading marathon claims and selective fitness data—published photographs showing the participant receiving assistance. Split-time data later revealed that her fastest 5km segment occurred between the 35km and 40km marks, matching the section of the course where she was spotted on the back of a bicycle.
By Wednesday morning, official race results confirmed her disqualification. A spokesperson for the Berlin Marathon told CBC News that while the organization does not comment publicly on specific individuals, it reviews proof of fraud and imposes disqualifications or further sanctions where necessary.
Influencer Abeeeer Apologizes for Breaking Marathon Rules
Following the public exposure, the influencer—who operates under the handle Abeeeer on the Chinese social media platform RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu—addressed her 520,000 followers with a public statement. She expressed deep guilt and offered no excuses for her conduct.
“I won’t make any excuses for this behaviour. I was feeling physically unwell on the course, [but] that is absolutely not an excuse for breaking the rules. My attempt to take a shortcut was disrespectful to the fairness of the competition and the spirit of the marathon,” Abeeeer wrote.
Brands associated with her quickly distanced themselves from the incident. Running brand Brooks China, which had supplied race equipment and partnered with the influencer, conducted a review of the allegations. The company terminated its relationship upon verifying the facts and stated it will never cooperate with her again.
The Ongoing Battle Against Course-Cutting
While marathon cheating remains a persistent issue in long-distance running—dating back to historical controversies such as Rosie Ruiz in 1980—recent digital scrutiny has heightened accountability. Independent watchdog accounts like OMTIU continue to use social media posts, public GPS records, and crowdsourced spectator photos to verify race integrity, ensuring that unofficial shortcuts on global courses face immediate public exposure and official penalties.
| Race Detail | Metric |
|---|---|
| Event | 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon |
| Date | September 27, 2026 |
| Total Entrants | Over 56,000 runners |
| Finishers | Approximately 50,000 |
