The Dublin Marathon introduced a zero-tolerance policy on unauthorized bib transfers this year. Concerns about race results and participant safety led to this move. Con Sheehan clarified that lifetime bans were misreported.

Bibs registered to someone else can distort race results and affect safety. A male runner using a female's bib, for example, can skew category standings. Accurate results matter to runners training for specific categories. Read more culture coverage.

While some transfers are due to unforeseen circumstances, unauthorized swaps can involve selling entries or avoiding fees. Dublin Marathon's transfer window closed a month before the race. Penalties include disqualification from future events. Related: Father Recalls Daughter's Texts During NYC Marathon Before Her Death.

This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Canadian Running. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.