Ironman Triathlon forfeiting $2.8M for race lottery

The World Triathlon Corp has agreed to forfeit $2.76 million US after charging money to be entered in a lottery for a chance to win entry to to the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. This process is not overly dissimilar from how some major marathons charge money to be entered into lotteries for a chance to compete in them.

The World Triathlon Corp charged athletes $50 to enter a lottery in which they could win the opportunity to race at the world championships.

“Ironman would have been permitted to give away the opportunity to compete in the race but violated the law when it charged athletes money for the chance to win,” U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley for the Middle District of Florida said in a press release. Ironman did not contest the findings and settled outside of court. They will not hold the lottery in it’s previous forms again though they will honour what was promised to current winners.

The money being forfeited comes from profits generated for the company by the lottery, which dates back to October of 2012.

Some major marathons hold similar lotteries for entrance into races which are in high demand. Though there are differences, the New York City Marathon charges potential runners $11 to enter the lottery, in addition to the entry fee they would be charged if selected. The $11 is a processing fee.