Viral Chain-Smoking Uncle in China Marathon Gets Banned For 2 Years From The Event

When participating in an event, there are “house rules” that we are expected to follow as guests. In case you are not aware, an uncle in China went viral a couple of years ago for smoking while running in a marathon.

A healthy marathon event, ironically, recently had to issue a memo about the ban on smoking during the marathon itself. The viral uncle participated in the large-scale marathon in China back in 2018, 2019, and 2022. The uncle even won himself a certificate of achievement for the marathon, and he became an internet sensation after images of him smoking and running at the marathon circulated on social media.

Not long after the 2022 Hangzhou Marathon, the Chinese Athletics Association made an announcement regarding the smoking incident.

The association emphasizes that smoking in public places will only cause health effects to yourself and others, and therefore advises contestants to remain civilized and become non-smoking contestants.

The viral uncle recently joined the event again, and of course, he brought his cancer stick to puff on during the marathon. For that, he has been banned from joining the running competition for 2 years.

The “2024 C&D Xiamen Marathon Competition Regulations” Article 2 of the Punishment Measures stipulates that the decision was made to cancel his results and temporarily ban him from the marathon.

We guess the uncle has to return to the marathon in 2026 and, hopefully, without his chain-smoking habit again! It’s an event that promotes a healthy lifestyle, so why would you bring along your ciggies and affect others?

Also read: “I’m caring, I don’t smoke” – M’sian ‘Promotes’ Himself After Getting Recorded for Eating Steamboat Alone