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NYC Marathon’s viral ‘bad judgement’ mom DQed from race records for smoking weed on course
Texas lawyer and influencer Andrea Sager has been disqualified from the New York City Marathon after accepting a puff of cannabis from a spectator while running. The decision removes her from the race’s official finisher records, though she says she does not regret the choice and has kept her medal.
Sager, 35, said she took the puff because she was in pain and wanted help finishing the course. Organisers said she breached their conduct rules, which prohibit smoking tobacco or marijuana products; she challenged the ruling, citing her charity fundraising and nearly six-hour time, but accepted it after video showed the incident. She had also attracted attention for a bright pink T-shirt promoting herself as a single mother with “bad judgment”, and says the resulting publicity has brought new followers and potential brand opportunities.
In short
- Andrea Sager was disqualified for smoking cannabis during the marathon.
- Organisers removed her from the official finisher records.
- She kept her medal and says she would make the same choice.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The organisers can reasonably argue that a clear no-smoking rule applies equally to all runners and helps protect safety, fairness and the event’s reputation. Disqualifying Sager after video confirmed the breach also shows that fundraising or publicity does not exempt a participant from rules accepted by everyone who enters.
The case against
Sager can reasonably argue that a brief puff taken while she was in pain did not give her a competitive advantage, and that removing her from the records is a severe response to conduct that did not alter her finishing time. Her charity fundraising and the fact that she completed the course may support a more proportionate sanction, while still recognising that the rule was breached.
Explained simply
The New York City Marathon is a 26.2-mile race through the city, organised by New York Road Runners. Thousands of runners take part, and those who complete the course are listed in the event’s official results.
Andrea Sager is a Texas lawyer and social media influencer who ran the race while raising money for charity. Marathon rules prohibit runners from smoking tobacco or marijuana products during the event, and organisers can disqualify participants who break those rules.
The story has drawn attention both to how race rules are enforced and to the way a runner’s clothing and social media presence can attract publicity. Sager’s bright pink shirt promoted her as a single mother with “bad judgment”, a phrase that also became associated with the incident.