Influencer apologises after being pictured on a bicycle during Berlin Marathon; sponsor drops her
A Chinese fitness influencer known as Abeeeer apologised after photos showed her riding a bicycle near the 38km mark of the Berlin Marathon, after she had posted a personal-best time. Sponsor Brooks China said it would not work with her again.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2A fitness influencer known as Abeeeer on the Chinese platform Xiaohongshu apologised after being photographed riding piggyback on a bicycle at the 38km mark of the Berlin Marathon, run on 27 September 2026. The Straits TimesRC “Fitness influencer Abeeeer was photographed riding piggyback on a bicycle at the 38km mark of the Berlin Marathon in September.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Irish IndependentRC “Berlin Marathon cheat says sorry after she was pictured riding bike during race” Read at Irish Independent ↗ Right · 1She had posted a finishing time of 4 hours, 53 minutes, 46 seconds and celebrated it as a personal best. The Straits TimesRC “posted a finishing time of 4 hours, 53 minutes, 46 seconds after the Sept 27 race.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 1The Official Marathon Time Integrity Unit (OMTIU), an Instagram account that investigates questionable race performances, flagged pictures of her on a bicycle near the 38km mark. According to the account, her fastest 5km stretch came between 35km and 40km, the section where she was photographed getting a ride. The Straits TimesRC “According to the account, her fastest 5km stretch came between 35km and 40km” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Right · 1On 3 October, Abeeeer, who has about 530,000 followers, confessed to fudging her personal best. She said she felt unwell during the race but accepted that this did not justify her actions, writing: "I will not make any defence for the above behaviour." The Straits TimesRC “confessed on Oct 3 to fudging her “personal best”.”““I will not make any defence for the above behaviour,”” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 1She also said that presenting the result as a legitimate achievement was "a very dishonest act" that "violated the sporting spirit of fair marathon competition". The Straits TimesRC ““a very dishonest act” that “violated the sporting spirit of fair marathon competition”.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 1Brooks China, which had supplied her with race equipment, said it had accepted her result without adequately checking how she completed the course, calling its failure to examine data such as split times "an oversight on our part", and said it would not work with her again. The Straits TimesRC ““an oversight on our part”.”“Brooks said it would not work with her again.” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Right · 1OMTIU said it has seen a shift in behaviour since influencers joined the running scene, alleging that some post times that are not real, using watch pauses, imaginary finish lines and inaccurate GPS data. The Straits TimesRC ““shaving minutes off with watch pauses, imaginary finish lines and inaccurate GPS data”.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 1The Straits Times placed the case among earlier marathon cheating, including Fred Lorz in 1904, Rosie Ruiz in 1980 and Roberto Madrazo, disqualified at Berlin in 2007, and noted that electronic timing and cameras now make detection more systematic. The Straits TimesRC “In 2007, former Mexican presidential candidate Roberto Madrazo was disqualified”“Electronic timing records allow organisers to check runners’ progress at points along a course” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both right-leaning outlets treat it as a cheating scandal. The Irish Independent's headline calls her a "cheat" who said sorry; The Straits Times leads on the consequences, with the sponsor dropping her, and adds historical context.
- Emphasis
- The apology, the sponsor's response, the OMTIU's evidence and a history of marathon cheating.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No comment from Berlin Marathon organisers or on any official sanction is reported. The Irish Independent text gives only a headline, so its detail is not comparable.
- Charged language
- “cheat”“caught cheating”“little lie”“marathon cheats”
- For example
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“Berlin Marathon cheat says sorry after she was pictured riding bike during race” — Irish Independent
“Abeeeer is the latest in a long list of marathon cheats.” — The Straits Times
What every side reports
- The runner apologised after being pictured on a bicycle during the Berlin Marathon.
Berlin Marathon event
The coverage reports no statement from Berlin Marathon organisers; the race is the setting where the incident and an earlier 2007 disqualification occurred.
“The Berlin Marathon has dealt with suspicious results before.” — The Straits Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Berlin Marathon cheat says sorry after she was pictured riding bike during race
Critical Headline labels the runner a cheat who apologised after being pictured on a bike.
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Influencer Abeeeer caught cheating after claiming Berlin Marathon personal best, dropped by sponsor
Critical Frames the story as an influencer caught cheating and punished by her sponsor, with historical comparisons.
- 6 Oct 05:30 First Irish IndependentRC Berlin Marathon cheat says sorry after she was pictured riding bike during race
- 6 Oct 12:10 +6h 40m The Straits TimesRC Influencer Abeeeer caught cheating after claiming Berlin Marathon personal best, dropped by sponsor
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.