In November 2022, Chen Bangxian, a 50-year-old Chinese amateur marathon runner, shot to internet popularity for finishing a marathon while chain-smoking cigarettes. Referred to as “Smoking Big Brother,” he ended up the 42-kilometer Jiande City marathon in the eastern Zhejiang province with a remarkable time of 3 hours and 28 minutes.
In a plain turnaround of fortunes this year, his unique routine led to quick charges at the just recently concluded Xiamen International Marathon: a two-year restriction from the occasion, cancellation of his race results, and the possibility of additional disciplinary action from the Chinese Athletic Association (CAA).
This marks not just the very first charge in the 2024 domestic marathon season however the very first time that action has actually been taken versus an individual for cigarette smoking throughout a race. Another individual, surnamed Lin, got a two-year restriction from the very same occasion for unapproved usage of an emergency treatment electrical car throughout the race.
In 2022, though Chen acquired nationwide attention, his smoking cigarettes practice throughout races stimulated both extensive displeasure amongst fellow runners and public protest on social networks, with some promoting for his restriction from future occasions. At that time, China did not have specific policies restricting cigarette smoking in marathons.
In guidelines launched in October 2023, the Xiamen occasion particularly categorized smoking cigarettes as “uncivilized habits,” together with other actions such as public urination, littering, destructive flower beds and green locations, and threatening the security of other runners. The Xiamen International Marathon, hung on Jan. 7 in the eastern Fujian province, is prominent internationally. This year’s occasion drew roughly 136,000 registrants, with over 30,000 individuals.
In many other cities, efforts to prohibit smoking cigarettes throughout marathons are still in the early phases. Host cities like Hangzhou and Guangzhou have guidelines that deal with types of “uncivilized habits,” however they stop brief of particularly prohibiting smoking cigarettes. Some cities are anticipated to reveal smoking cigarettes restrictions in the run-up to the occasions.
Thirty-two-year-old marathon runner Ma Yujun, an experienced professional athlete with 13 years of experience, stated he supported such charges, especially versus smoking cigarettes. “(The running neighborhood) really dislike this habits. Throughout and after working out, we require to breathe more oxygen. Breathing in pre-owned smoke in these minutes is not just detestable however likewise considerably impacts those around,” Ma discussed.
In the previous couple of years, the nation has actually made a growing number of efforts to forbid smoking cigarettes in specific opportunities.
Given that 2010, Shanghai has actually imposed a restriction on cigarette smoking in competitors and efficiency locations, a policy later on embraced by Hangzhou in eastern China in 2018. People discovered breaking these guidelines might sustain fines of approximately 200 yuan ($28), while organizers or administrative bodies overlooking their smoking cigarettes control responsibilities might deal with charges varying from 2,000 to 20,000 yuan.
In 2011, China executed across the countryguidelinestargeted at decreasing smoking cigarettes in public areas. These policies forbid smoking cigarettes in indoor public locations and specify that outside smoking cigarettes zones in public areas must not be placed on pedestrian courses.
Current information from the National Health Commission reveals that since 2022, there are around 350 million cigarette smokers in China, almost a quarter of the population. A considerable part of this group is over the age of 36, according to a 2022 research study in the Peking University Journal (Health Science).
Extra reporting: Lü Xiaoxi; editor: Apurva.
(Header image: Moments after the Xiamen marathon started, Fujian province, Jan. 7, 2024. Wang Dongming/CNS/VCG)