A marathon cheat ran a race for his pal – then blew his own cover in a jokey Facebook post.
Neil Kennedy stood in for friend Paddy Patterson in a 33-mile ultra-marathon in Aberdeenshire last Saturday.
But the pair are now both being investigated by Scottish Athletics after Kennedy bragged about his exploit on social media.
Kennedy, 45, from Glasgow, posted a picture of himself with a plaque for finishing third in his age group and joked about how he’d faked an Irish accent to sound like his pal.
His message, on a popular Facebook running group, was spotted by race organisers and has since been deleted.
He wrote: “Sorry Paddy Patterson! Three weeks ago you asked me to do the D33 ultra in your place. You couldn’t do it. I said OK’.
This prompted veteran Dod Reid, race director of the D33 Ultra event, to report both men to the sport’s governing body, Scottish Athletics.
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Reid also shared a screenshot of Kennedy’s post with the words: “I will see to it that you are both banned from any future Scottish Athletics events.
“You have stolen a place from the rightful winner and put runners’ safety at risk.
“You are both no longer welcome within the Scottish ultra scene.
“I will make sure the rightful winner receives his prize. You will be removed from the D33 results.”
The men, both veteran runners, could now be suspended from entering licensed competitions as well as being blacklisted by organisers of ultra races – any race over the standard
26.2-mile marathon.
Runners are banned from swapping numbers without the permission of race organisers, mainly on health and safety grounds.
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Kennedy finished the 33-mile run last Saturday in four hours, 29 minutes and 17 seconds, despite poor weather conditions.
He was then pictured beaming for the camera as he was handed an engraved plaque by race director Reid.
He even joked about how Patterson would have to defend his title next year.
Both Kennedy and Patterson, who lives in Edinburgh, declined to comment.
Scottish Athletics confirmed Kennedy and Patterson were being investigated and could be sanctioned.
