Marathon Cheat Dodges Own Finish: Rob Sloan Is Innocent?
DISGRACED marathon runner Rob Sloan has been thrown out of Sunderland Harriers.
The 32-year-old joined the club in June and caused sensation when he finished third in the Kielder Marathon. Not the sharpest chisel in the box, Sloan had run for 20 miles, jumped on a passing spectator bus and told the driver he was knackered. He asked the bus to drop him near the finish and then hid behind a tree and ran in to take third.
The runner did not turn up to a meeting of the not-at-all-amused Sunderland Harriers’ executive committee Silksworth Sports Complex last night when he was expelled.
A club statement says:
“He was seen on the team bus and then hiding behind a tree before deciding to run the closing section of the course and crossing the finish line in third place.
“Despite admitting his wrongdoing to the Kielder Marathon organisers and the Sunderland Harriers club chairman Kevin Carr, Sloan then denied admitting his guilt to all concerned. “His constant denials to cheating have further blighted the situation and brought shame and embarrassment to Sunderland Harriers.”
Organisers of the marathon on October 9, awarded the third place to Scottish competitor Steven Cairns, who it was originally believed had come fourth.
According to the Sunderland Echo:
“Chairman of Sunderland Harriers Club Kevin Carr said that days after the marathon Mr Sloan had rang him in tears confessing his guilt. Since then however, Mr Sloan’s wife Sharon said that her husband now claims to have been “set up”.
Sloan’s Facebook profile features a picture of a t-shirt with “Rob Sloan is innocent. Jog on” written on it.
Posted: 20th, October 2011 | In: Reviews Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink
