Rich Running Fan Pays Boston Marathon Winner After Organizers Still Haven’t

May 13, 2024

Buzunesh Deba was named the official winner in 2016 after Rita Jeptoo was disqualified for doping. But the Boston Athletic Association has held up paying her the $100,000 she’s due—$75,000 for winning and $25,000 for setting a course record—because it’s been unable to recover the money from Jeptoo.

The Wall Street Journal wrote about Deba’s story a few days before this year’s Boston Marathon in April. On Monday, the outlet reported that a reader has paid Deba the $75,000 himself, and was open to funding the extra $25,000 if the BAA wouldn’t. FOS