RAF deploys 46 monitors in Kigali Peace Marathon

The Rwanda Athletics Federation (RAF) has set out 46 people to monitor any cheating in the 12th edition of the Kigali International Peace Marathon today. Over 4000 athletes from 32 nations will take part in the event which has 3 categories: 42km marathon, 21km half marathon and a 7km run for fun race. RAF Secretary General Johnson Rukundo told Times Sport that the reason they are increasing supervision of the race is because of allegations of cheating in last year’s race. “Some people claimed that one of our runners cheated his way to victory although there was no evidence of that. This time we are going to be a lot more vigilant and that is the reason we are using more people to monitor the race,” Rukundo said. He further noted that; “Each running group will be led and followed by a team of these monitors who will be using motorbikes and another team will be deployed towards the finishing line.” The Athletics federation had preferred to hire a drone from a Kenyan company that can be easily used by a mobile phone so that they crack down such athletes however according to Rukundo it was not possible to get it in time for the marathon. “We hope this marathon will be the most successful because everything is in place,” he further added The half marathon (21km) kicks off at 7:30am followed by the full marathon (42km) that will start fifteen minutes later while the Run for fun (7km) starts at7:50am. The 21km race starts from Amahoro stadium via Chez Lando, Gishushu, MTN Centre Nyarutarama, Gacuriro, and back to Gishushu, Parliament, Umubano hotel and then to Gishushu, Gisementi, Tigo, University of Rwanda (former KIE), Control Technique, Sports View hotel and back to Amahoro stadium while the 42km will be twice this route. The run for fun, which is 7km, will start from the Amahoro Stadium via University of Rwanda (former KIE), Control Technique, Sports View hotel and then back to the stadium.