New K-9 Units Will Bring Cheaters Down in Real Time, Marathon Investigation Says
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DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM
Marathon Investigation, the website devoted to rooting out course cutters, bandits, and other road race cheats, is adding a new tool, Dumb Runner has learned—trained dogs that will nab wrongdoers in the act.
Modeled after law enforcement K-9 units, the dogs are trained to detect cheaters and apprehend them “in real time,” Marathon Investigation said in a statement. The move marks a significant change for the website, from data-crunching detective work after a race to physical policing during the race itself.
“Till now, we have focused on keyboard sleuthing and puzzle-solving,” the statement said. “Starting now, Marathon Investigation will pivot to active enforcement of the rules as they’re being broken.”
“Cheaters, you’ve been warned.”
Reached for comment, a Marathon Investigation spokesperson told Dumb Runner that the K-9 units seemed like “a natural next step” after years of spotlighting and shaming race cheats online.
“Our old model was fine, as far as it went,” the spokesperson said. “But it clearly didn’t have much of a deterrent effect—people keep cheating in races, despite our efforts.”
The dogs, mostly German shepherds and Belgian Malinois, are meant to be a visible, and effective, deterrent, added the spokesperson.
“The problem with rules in marathons and other events is that they have no teeth,” the statement said. “Starting now, we will provide the teeth.”
