Australian YouTuber Handed Lifetime Ban by Ageo City Half Marathon After Running 1:06 with Another Runner's Bib (updated)
After discussion with their race's chief JAAF referee, on Nov. 27 the organizers of the Ageo City Half Marathon handed down a lifetime ban from their event against 36-year-old Australian Matt Inglis Fox for running the Nov. 15 race wearing the bib number of another JAAF-registered runner.
The club runner, Harrisson Uk, readily confirmed that he had given his bib to Fox, saying, "I gave my number to Matt. It wasn't me." During follow-up questions he said, "I never had any intention to cheat. I received a message from someone who was looking for a bib for Ageo. The message was that a YouTuber from abroad was looking for a spot to run a race in Japan. I had no idea he was that fast, and I actually didn't even know who Matt Fox was until today. I just wanted to be helpful. I naively thought he was going to jog with a GoPro and do a vlog. I was careless and didn't check who he was, and I take full responsibility for that."
When asked for clarification of his results, Fox initially set his Instagram account to private and sent a DM claiming a friend who had obtained the bib for him was responsible, saying, "I ran it with a bib through a friend of a friend. I've just learned now that the bib wasn't in my name, I wasn't aware and it seems as if both parties thought the other would change the name and the mutual friend in the middle wasn't clear." Asked for corroboration that he had believed Fox was going to change the name registered to the bib, Uk told JRN, "The intermediate told me (and him) that he was going to 'take care of the bib transfer.' My first thought upon hearing was that it probably meant a transfer of name indeed, but I didn't ask further."
The entries section of the Ageo City Half Marathon website states in both English and Japanese: "False declarations of age, gender, etc., and participation by anyone other than the applicant (substitute runner) are not allowed. If they are discovered, you will be required to follow the organizer's decision to cancel participation, commendation, or disqualification to future participation, etc. The organizer will not take any responsibility for false declarations, substitute runners, rescue, refunds, etc."
When additional photos and video emerged clearly showing Fox wearing the club runner's bib in the race, the Ageo organizing committee acted upon the JAAF referee's recommendations. Uk was disqualified and the results under his name annulled, and both men received lifetime bans from running Ageo. Following the announcement of the disqualification and bans Fox did not reply to a request for further comment.
Update: On Dec. 5 Fox responded, saying in part, "False information. Instagram never on private. May have been for a minute every now and then to test something unrelated. Framing is as if I intentionally did then when both parties shared very clearly with you that it was a mis miscommunication multiplier by a language barrier - all results/tracking in Japanese, bib in Japanese, I do not speak Japanese mate." (all sic). Out of respect for Fox's stated preference we have removed a photo of him taken during the race.
後ろに5, 6, 7位が追いかけている#上尾ハーフ pic.twitter.com/pV22C5yanB
— tempo (@tempo_jpn) November 19, 2023
Ageo organizers also took issue with video posted by Fox, founder of the Sweat Elite YouTube and Instagram channels and coaching platform, on his personal Instagram and posted on the social media channels of Sweat Elite and collaborator tempo. Some of the video of Fox and of collegiate runners competing for podium positions was shot at close range from what appeared to be a bicycle or other vehicle on the road course. A member of the Ageo organizing committee told JRN that neither Sweat Elite nor tempo had been issued media credentials or permits to shoot such video. "The race management does not allow filming or photography on the course itself," the official commented. "When issuing official media permissions we also issue an operating protocol that prioritizes safety."
Update: After turning up at JRN associate editor Mika Tokairin's running club workout and approaching her, on Dec. 6 Fox sent JRN's Brett Larner the email below. His intent in so doing is unclear, but JRN forwarded it along with his numerous other emails since the publication of this article to our colleagues in the Ageo city government, who shared it with their colleagues in the legal and police departments.
© 2023 Brett Larner, all rights reserved
Comments
Thanks for this information. It's good to make public this kind of behaviour.
As you may know, apparently this Australian youtuber is also running today/tomorrow the Fukuoka Marathon... I wonder if this time with a proper bib number by his name or also "bought" or "borrowed" from another runner. In any case we should check the results and also confirm with the organization...
In addition to false information - this has been framed as is its poor behaviour when in fact the reality is it was purely a mis-communication on the name change- i was on the assumpion that it had been changed and the only thing I regret here is not ensuring it. With that said- everything is in Japanese here, at these races. Nobody speak english, the bib pick up is all in Japanese, the app and tracking is in Japanese and everyones name is in Japanese. It's not so simple to cross check this here in Japan, it's very simple in an english speaking country.
Regarding other races and Fukuoka and people pointing out if I do this often, sorry but why on earth would i want to run a fast time in someone elses name? Wouldn't it be in my best interest for this to be in my name? I get into elite fields using official result. It makes absolutely no sense for me to try and do this. Hence this error. Do you think I want to run 2:19 at Fukuoka and it be in someone elses name?
And while this article has been written out of hate and envy, it's framing is simply all wrong. I was lazy in cross checking the name change. Do keep in mind though that it's not so simple to ensure this in Japan when you don't understand the language and 99.9% do not speak english.
I've featured Brett Larner on the Sweat Elite Podcast and offered to work with him in the past on content, offering money to do so.
It's an extremely "dick" move to write this article and very clearly he's disturbed by someone else producing content in english in Japan. People often wonder why the running world struggles to make content. Terrible ego's is one reason. You did not have to press this ban nor write this article and you have been told very clearly by both parties this was not intentional. I've not once run another race in another bib, think about it- it makes no sense to for me. In fact, it's far worse to.
You are also using images of me i did not agree to - in many countries this is illegal and I am now following this up here in Japan. To corroborate on banning me for something that was purely a mistake then using images of me to suit your narrative is an act 99% of people would agree is ethically questionable. I'm not sure what world you live in, Brett.
I’m living in Japan and it’s absolutely wrong that 99.9% of people don’t speak English and no excuse in any case. If you did Brooklyn half and told the organisers on race day you run with a different bib you’d be DQed on the spot.
Own up to it and don’t search for excuses.