A marathon was held in the city in mid-2014, with much fanfare, but its three winners continue to run from pillar to post to receive their promised cash prize.
The city police have failed to register an FIR on this matter despite a formal complaint being filed by the runners, with the Valasaravakkam police, last year.
Tobacco Free India 2014, the 21-km-run, organised by a Valsaravakkam-based firm in association with a media house and a hospital in Chennai, was flagged off from the Marina on June 1, 2014.
Over 100 athletes, including foreign runners, participated in the event which had announced prize money of Rs. 1 lakh to the winner, and Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 25,000 for the second and third runners-up, respectively.
National runner Soji Mathew from Kerala clinched the first place while Kenyan David Cipnovich came second and Ezhil Nilavan, a Tamil Nadu long-distance runner from Cuddalore, finished third.
But their triumphant smiles soon vanished after they couldn’t encash the prize cheques issued by the organisers.
“They repeatedly prevented us from submitting the cheques claiming some administrative issues. By November, when we pressed for our money, the representatives of the event management company threatened us and said they would never pay us,” a dejected Soji told The Hindu .
On November 3, 2014, Soji and Ezhil submitted a complaint at the Valsaravakkam police station but no further investigation was initiated.
The two runners and their coaches tried to meet the police commissioner a few times but to no avail.
Kenyan runner David, who is believed to be in the city, is awaiting the prize money to return home. The athletes now plan to approach the State sports authorities with their grievance.
The runners allege they were threatened by the event organisers when they demanded the
reward money
