News headlines that are so ridiculous, you could've sworn they were from The Onion
What's the point of disqualifying him? We all know he finished. It's not like he gets any prize money for it.
To discourage others from smoking during the race.
Imagine this guy was in front of you, and you have to breathe in his second hand smoke while you're trying to run a marathon. Not everyone has lungs of steel like this guy.
I understand kicking him out of the race while it's going, but it sounds like it was after the fact that they took action.
It looks like it's the following:
the Xiamen Marathon confirmed that a participant violated an article of its rules and regulations, which prohibits "open defecation, smoking, or trampling on flower beds or green spaces."
Covert defecation still permitted, though.
I hope so!