[Time] LOS ANGELES ‐ A marathon runner has been found dead in the Los Angeles River, days after he was disqualified from the Los Angeles Marathon following allegations of cheating.The body of Dr. Frank Meza, 70, was discovered shortly before 10 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. Sarah Ardalani, a spokeswoman for the coroner’s office, said an autopsy is pending. The Los Angeles Times reported Meza as the man found dead and a medical license and voter registration records match his home address and date of birth.
Meza, a retired physician who began entering marathons in his 60s after coaching young athletes, had denied the allegations of cheating. He had come under suspicion for his fast splits and finishes in marathons statewide, but claimed it was impossible for him to prove he didn’t cheat. He did say he had stopped to relieve himself, but said he ran the entire 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers).
"My take on all this, it was supposed to be fun," he told the Times. "Obviously it’s not fun anymore."