Influencer will be banned from future NYC marathons for bringing a camera crew to the race last weekend

NEW YORK (AP) — A social media influencer from Texas was banned from participating last weekend New York City Marathon and banned from future competitions after riding the race with a camera crew on e-bikes in tow.

The New York Road Runners, which organizes the venerable race, said in a statement Tuesday that Matthew Choi had violated the group’s code of conduct and competition rules, not to mention those of World Athletics, running’s international governing body.

“One of the incidents brought to NYRR’s attention was that Choi was running with the help of two unauthorized individuals who were riding electric bicycles around the course and obstructing the runners,” the group said.

Choi, 29, finished the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) route with one Time of 2:57:15or about 50 minutes behind Abdi Nageeye, the Winner among men race.

The former football player published for Monmouth University in New Jersey several videos The fact that he ran the marathon on his social media accounts immediately sparked scorn.

“As a runner, it was great to see him. This gave me extra motivation to overtake him and make sure I never had to see him and his stupid crew again for the rest of the race,” one user wrote on Reddit.

Choi, of Austin, Texas, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday. He apologized on his Instagram account, where he posts videos about running and fitness to his more than 400,000 followers.

Choi acknowledged that the filming endangered other participants, prevented some from potentially achieving personal best times and even prevented some from drinking at certain water stations. More than 55,000 runners finished the racewhich wound its way through all five boroughs of New York City.

“I have no excuses, period,” Choi said on camera Tuesday post. “I was selfish on Sunday when my brother and videographer followed me on e-bikes and that had serious consequences.”

“Since the New York City Marathon is about everyone else and the community, for me it was also about myself,” he continued. “And to everyone I impacted, I’m sorry. To be clear, this was 100% my fault.”

The New York Road Runners said Choi had the right to appeal, but the influencer said he was resigned to his fate.

“I made my bed, so I’ll lie in it,” Choi said, acknowledging that he has previously been criticized for using e-bike film crews to film major competitions. “This won’t happen again. My word is my bond.”

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Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.