Close Shave Uncovers Marathon Fraud
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BRUSSELS, Belgium — Abbes Tehami of Algeria was an easy winner of the Brussels marathon Sunday--until someone wondered where his mustache had gone.
The mustache, it turns out, belonged to Tehami’s coach, Bensalem Hamiani.
Hamiani ran the first 7 1/2 miles of the race, then dropped out of the lead pack and disappeared into the woods, passing bib No. 62 on to Tehami. Tehami then crossed the finish line first, after a burst of speed in the last mile.
“They looked about the same,” race organizer Milou Blavier said Monday. “Only, one had a mustache.”
The fraud was quickly discovered and Soviet runner Anatoly Karipanov got the first prize, $7,150, instead.
Karipanov won in 2 hours 18 minutes 4 seconds. He also wore his mustache from start to finish.
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