A running influencer experienced his very last New York marathon without knowing it on Sunday, after being banned by the organization due to the presence of a film crew following him on electric bikes, disturbing his other runners.
Texas native Matthew Choi was disqualified from the marathon he ran Sunday in 2:57:15 and removed from the results, New York Road Runners announced, according to NBC News. He will also be banned from future races.
The organization made this decision after “review and due to violations of the rules of World Athletics and the New York Road Runners Code of Conduct and Competition Rules.”
The man was accused of having run with two unauthorized people who were traveling on the course with electric bikes, at times obstructing the race of other participants.
Shortly after the organization’s decision, Matthew Choi took to his Instagram account to apologize.
“I screwed up. I didn’t plan to make this video. But I have no excuses. On Sunday, I was selfish by asking my brother and my videographer to follow me on an electric bike on the course, and that had serious consequences,” he said in a video.
“We put other runners at risk, we hindered people who were trying to achieve their personal best, we stopped people from going to get water. The New York Marathon being everyone’s and community’s affair, I made it a personal affair. And to everyone I have affected, I am sorry,” he added.
