China’s deadly ultramarathon test leads to arrests and suicides in New China

The investigators said the tragedy was a public safety incident caused by extreme weather and unprofessional organization.

China has punished at least 27 government officials responsible for last month’s ultramarathon deaths, the state People’s Journal said on Friday, as the government confirmed the suicidal death of a senior regional official.

Twenty-one people were killed by hypothermia, a very cold weather suddenly brought down a 100 km (62-mile) marathon organized by the government on May 22 in the rugged northwestern province of Gansu.

It was one of the deadliest sports tragedies in the world in recent history.

According to reports citing the Gansu provincial government, at least five officials from the province have been arrested.

The head of the Jingtai region where the race was held was also removed from office, the People Daily newspaper reported, investigators reported.

Other organizers of the account were the mayor and the head of the Communist Party in the city of Baiyin, which is under Jingtai’s jurisdiction.

Penalties imposed on officials included high demerit assessments and disciplinary warnings.

Li Zuobi, the leader of the Jingtai regional party, also fell from his apartment building on June 9 and was killed, state media reported, adding that police were still investigating Li’s death, adding that they had denied the homicide.

Officials were initially saddened by Li’s death, thinking it was linked to an investigation into the deadly cause.

Investigators say the ultramarathon tragedy was a public safety incident caused by extreme weather: rough winds, heavy rainfall and harsh temperatures, as well as unprofessional organization and operation.

The Chinese sports administration said last week it is suspending all high-risk sporting events that do not have a supervisory body, no established rules and no clear safety rules.

Activities that have stopped include sports for mountain and desert trails, wing suits, and ultra-long-distance running.