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BC runner banned from Tokyo Marathon over coronavirus concern

Sandy Sumra has completed marathons in Boston, New York, and London. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Sandy Sumra has completed marathons in Boston, New York, and London. (Getty)

All “non-professional” runners have been disinvited from the Tokyo Marathon that is taking place this Saturday over fears of coronavirus spreading.

A Richmond, B.C. runner is among those that initially earned a spot in the race, but has since been banned from the event.

“Disappointing is definitely the right word,” said Sandy Sumra in an interview with CTV News Vancouver.

“You have your own personal goals you want to reach and you make a certain commitment for about four months. You sacrifice. (You miss) the Christmas parties, you come home a little early. And our Vancouver winters, where it's dark and wet and damp, but you still get out there and put in your work for the sole reason of meeting your goal.”

Tokyo was going to be Sumra’s fourth marathon. The risk management consultant has completed marathons in Boston, New York and London previously.

Despite the months of training, Sumra’s position has been deferred to next year’s marathon, but he will not get his money back for the 2020 race and will have to pay the entrance fee again.

He suspects that the ban has something to do with an upcoming large-scale event.

“I think the Tokyo Olympics are a factor for sure,” Sumra said. “After a marathon the immune system is pretty depressed, and all it takes one person to maybe get a flu and say, 'oh my God it might be coronavirus.' And we all know that could snowball into news, if its real or it's not. So even having potential of negative press from the Tokyo Marathon has played a bit of a part.”

The cut back of participants is disappointing, but Sumra won’t let his training be wasted.

“I'm ready to run a race now,” he said. “Maybe I'll search for something in the next couple of weeks.”

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