run the good race...NOT!

Apparently, Roberto Madrazo is not good at running in political races or foot races. Madrazo was the losing candidate for President in Mexico last year. Then, on Sunday, September 30th, he was crowned the winner of the over-55 category at a marathon in Berlin-- before it was revealed that he did not complete the course.

From the A-P article by Jessica Bernstein-Wax in Wednesday's C-J...

After a humiliating defeat in Mexico's presidential election last year, Roberto Madrazo appeared to be back on top: He'd won the men's age-55 category in the Sept. 30 Berlin marathon with a surprising time of 2:41:12.

But Madrazo couldn't leave his reputation for shady dealings in the dust. Race officials said Monday they disqualified him for apparently taking a short cut - an electronic tracking chip indicates he skipped two checkpoints in the race and would have needed superhuman speed to achieve his win.

According to the chip, Madrazo took only 21 minutes to cover nine miles - faster than any human can run. "Not even the world record holder can go that fast," race director Mark Milde said.

In a photograph taken as he crossed the finish line, Madrazo wears an ear-to-ear grin and pumps his arms in the air. But he also wore a wind breaker, hat and long, skintight running pants - too much clothing, some said, for a person who had just run 26.2 miles in 60-degree weather...

Madrazo's reputation at home was already tarnished. In 1996, Mexico's attorney general confirmed reports that he had spent tens of millions of dollars more than the legal campaign spending limit in his winning 1994 bid for the Tabasco state governorship.

While under investigation on those charges, Madrazo told police he was kidnapped for seven hours, beaten and threatened with death by unidentified assailants. Police couldn't find evidence of any such abduction, and many saw it as a sympathy ploy.

During the 2006 presidential campaign, opponents plastered walls with posters reading, "Do you believe Madrazo? I don't either!"

In June, Madrazo completed the San Diego marathon with a time of 3:44:06 - more than an hour slower than his time in Berlin, Mexican newspaper Reforma reported. Madrazo's office did not return phone calls from The Associated Press.

Race director Milde noted that Madrazo may have intended to drop out and taken a shortcut to reach the start-finish area.

"I don't know if it was his intention or accidental: I try to believe in the good of people," Milde said. But the fact that Madrazo appears to be celebrating in the photograph could go against this theory, he added.

Then an update in today's C-J where Madrazo tries to explain his actions...

Madrazo...said yesterday he never intended to complete the race and went to the finish line simply to collect his belongings. Breaking a week of silence, he issued a statement in which he said the allegations of cheating were nothing more than political attacks meant to discredit his sporting career...

Madrazo said he stopped running after the 21st kilometer because of an injury and headed to the start/finish line to pick up his clothing and participatory medal. He said he never tried to fool anyone with his 2:41:12 clocking.

"My marathon times have been between 3 hours, 14 minutes and 3 hours, 54 minutes -- never 2 hours and 40 minutes," he said. "It would be impossible for a 55-year-old man to do that."