Two male runners have been disqualified after they were found to have competed in the women’s category of the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, officials said.

The men ran using race bibs registered to two female athletes and finished among the top 10 in the women’s half-marathon, initially taking positions that should have gone to female competitors.

The issue was detected by a race official, leading to the disqualification of the men from their 7th and 10th place finishes. The two rightful female runners were later awarded those positions.

Race board member Stuart Mann said Larissa Parekh allegedly allowed Luke Jacobs to run using her bib, while Tegan Garvey is accused of giving hers to Nic Bradfield. All four individuals could face disciplinary action, including a possible two-year ban from the event.

The Two Oceans Marathon is one of South Africa’s most well-known races, featuring both a 56-kilometre ultramarathon and a 21.1-kilometre half-marathon, and attracts more than 16,000 participants each year. Finishing in the top 10 is considered a major achievement.

Mann described the practice of swapping bibs as unethical and potentially dangerous, noting that it could create serious medical risks in emergencies if runners are misidentified.

He said runners sometimes give their bibs to others due to last-minute injuries or personal reasons, while others do it to gain unfair advantages, such as achieving faster times to qualify for future races.

The incident came to light after photos shared on social media showed Jacobs wearing a bib with Parekh’s name, raising suspicion.

Jacobs later issued a written apology, admitting it was a mistake and saying he did not consider the consequences.

Garvey also acknowledged giving her bib to Bradfield, saying she was unable to run due to a hip injury. Both women have apologised, according to officials.