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The marathon runner who was found dead in a river last week after being disqualified from the Los Angeles marathon for alleged fraud has committed suicide, has committed suicide, the coroner's office announced.
Frank Meza, a 70-year-old retired doctor, told his wife that he was running for a run Thursday but that he was later found dead in the Los Angeles River after people could have jumped from a bridge.
LOS ANGELES MARATHON RUNNER, 70 YEARS OLD, INDICATED RECORD DISQUALIFIED TIME AFTER DETERMINATION OF DETERMINED OFFICIALS
According to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, Meza, of South Pasadena, died of multiple traumatic injuries by blunt force. His death was deemed a suicide.
At age 70, he was a long-time marathon runner.
On June 28, organizers of the Los Angeles Marathon accused Meza of cheating after completing the race in 2 hours 53 minutes and 10 seconds – the best time ever for a man of her age.
The organizers, after conducting an investigation and viewing a video, claimed that he had left the course at one point and then returned at another time. Meza told the Los Angeles Times that he had left the race to use a bathroom and "did not cut the course".
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"All kinds of allegations were launched against me – it was quite traumatic," said Meza. Earlier in the week, he had hoped to run his next marathon with an official observer by his side to prove the contrary to those who thought he had cheated.
The marathon officials later awarded Dan Adams first place in the 70-74 age group. He finished with a time of 4 hours 10 minutes and 7 seconds.
Fox Gear's Robert Gearty and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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