The Boston Athletic Association (BAA), organizers of the world’s oldest annual marathon, has announced plans to pay prize money to athletes who were unfairly impacted by doping violations in past races.
In a landmark move, the BAA revealed that it is reaching out to runners whose results have been re-ranked following the disqualification of doping offenders. The compensation will cover races dating back to 1986, the year prize money was first introduced in the iconic Boston Marathon.
“While the multi-step process to reclaim and redistribute prize money has been complex and time-consuming, we have worked diligently to support clean athletes,” said Jack Fleming, BAA President and CEO, in a statement.
The decision follows years of high-profile doping scandals that have tarnished the sport, with Kenya at the centre of several cases. Notably, Kenyan runner Diana Kipyokei was stripped of her 2021 Boston Marathon title after testing positive for banned substances and subsequently received a six-year ban.
Voluntary payments are set to begin in January 2025. Athletes who believe they were affected by doping violations are encouraged to apply for compensation.
“We are committed to ensuring fair competition and maintaining the integrity of our events,” added Fleming. “Our goal is to uphold the fairest of playing fields for all athletes.”
The BAA’s decision has been widely welcomed in the athletics community as a step toward restoring trust in the sport and supporting those who compete clean.
