London Marathon race director Hugh Brasher confirmed on Thursday that the race left the social media platform X in January, saying it “descending into a gutter.”
The race is the first of all seven major marathons to publicly affirm that it will no longer use the social media platform.
During a press event for Sunday’s race, Brasher made it clear why the London Marathon has not made any posts on X in over three months.
He made specific references to online abuse Scottish middle distance runner Eilish McColgan has endured on the platform, where comments about her body shape persisted. Some comments referenced how thin McColgan appeared to look in a video of her training.
“I think it’s abhorrent the abuse that she’s had,” Brasher said. “How she has held herself and responded to that is exemplary. But there are some social media channels that are particularly vitriolic and are descending into a gutter. And as a result of that, London Marathon Events have actually come off one of those channels.”
The London Marathon X account was last active on January 17, with a celebratory pinned post announcing that Eliud Kipchoge was returning to run Sunday’s race.
The account, with 192,000 followers, has since remained dormant, with Brasher now making it clear that repeated instances of harsh comments and abusive content under Elon Musk’s leadership are why his race will no longer be active on X.
Twitter was purchased by Elon Musk in October 2022 for $44 billion and made sweeping changes to the platform, notably rebranding it as X. He quickly slashed staff and under his leadership, the social media network has navigated a controversial period.
Musk openly supported Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2024 and has been accused of allowing — and backing — right-wing content that has appeared the platform.
Brasher also noted that the direction X appears to have headed in since Musk took over the platform does not align with the vision of the London Marathon. His father Chris and John Disley founded the race, which was first staged in 1981. Chris, competed in the 1979 New York City Marathon and drew inspiration for the London race to focus on positivity.
“One of the aims of my father and John was to show that on occasion, the family of humankind could be joyous together and celebrate together,” Brasher said. “That’s what the London Marathon is about. It is a force for good. And we didn’t feel that channel shared those values, and therefore we have come off.”
Brasher later noted that the race is upholding its mandate of prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in the female category. But transgender participants will still be able to run as part of the general field.
His comments come just a week after the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court ruled on April 16 that legal definition of “woman” under British law excludes transgender women.
“The London Marathon has been very clear about protecting women’s rights,” Brasher said. “To take part in good-for-age, championship, elite and age-group prizes, they have to be birth women, as defined by the courts. To take part in the mass event it is self-selection.”
He added, “How do you check? People are asked to provide ID. And your passport could say your gender and your gender can say female, even if you were born male.”
Still, Brasher said he is waiting for guidance from the Equalities Human Rights Commission and Sport England on how to further interpret the Supreme Court ruling and how to implement any possible chances to guidelines for races staged by London Marathon Events.
