10 runners banned for 3 years after urinating on school sign during China marathon

By Hong Duy May 1, 2025 | 11:40 pm PT

A group of marathon runners urinate on a sign of a middle school in Suzhou, China. Photo courtesy of Weibo

Ten runners have been banned from competition for three years by China’s top athletics body after they were caught publicly urinating during the Suzhou Marathon 2025, sparking widespread outrage.

The runners were captured in viral social media footage urinating on a sign outside a middle school during the March 2 event. The incident drew immediate backlash, especially as mobile toilets provided by event organizers were located only a few meters away.

The Chinese Athletics Association swiftly identified the offending athletes and imposed the three-year ban, according to What's On Weibo.

"We hope all athletes and relevant parties treat this as a lesson," the CAA stated in a press release.

In addition to penalizing the runners, the association revoked the official certification for the upcoming Suzhou Marathon 2026, effectively removing it from the CAA's official marathon calendar.

Public urination in Suzhou carries a potential fine of CN¥1,000 ($137.53).

This incident echoes a similar controversy from the Beijing Marathon in 2013, where numerous participants were forced to urinate publicly due to inadequate restroom facilities. Marathon organizers have since significantly increased the availability of mobile toilets.

The Suzhou Marathon is one of China’s premier running events. This year's race attracted over 160,000 applicants, with only 25,000 runners participating after a lottery selection.