South Sudan bullies marathoner over Olympic scholarship

Guor Marial, the South Sudanese marathon runner famous for “running without a country” in the 2012 Olympics in London has been banned from representing his country at the Rio 2016 games unless he hands over a scholarship awarded to him by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

This is an obstacle put forth by the South Sudan Athletic Federation who says that it is their policy to disperse funds evenly among the country’s athletes rather than seeing it go all to one. The federation has revoked Marial’s membership because of this controversy. They say if he doesn’t hand over his scholarship, he is “not to dream” about running in Rio in 2016.

He received the stipend from the IOC two weeks ago. He now has 72 hours to appear in South Sudan to discuss the situation. If not, he may face punishment. Marial is based in Flagstaff, Ariz., but is currently training in Kenya.

In 2012, he refused to represent South Sudan at the Olympics saying that to do so would be to dishonour the two million people who fought for the freedom of the country’s citizens (eight of his siblings were killed in the civil war). In London, he ran a 2:19:32 marathon placing 47th. He was one of only four athletes to run under the Olympic flag. Now, he says all he needs is the funds and the flag from the Olympics to race in Rio.

Marial expresses anger with the South Sudan Athletic Federation saying he was awarded the scholarship and therefore he should be the only one to benefit from it. He says the country is denying his rights as a citizen and as an athlete.