Hicham El Barouki and Abdelhaimi El Fehi were confirmed as the winner and runner-up respectively of the 25th Land Rover Malta Marathon. This was revealed in a statement issued by the organising committee late yesterday evening.
The Malta Marathon Organising Committee (MMOC) clarified their position following the mishap at the start of Sunday's 42km race during which the lead car threw the front-runners, four in all, off course at Mtarfa.
The mistake by the lead car also affected pre-race favourite Neals Strik, of Holland, and local hopeful Jonathan Balzan.
The two Moroccans continued the race despite having to cover an extra three kilometers but Strik and Balzan had to abandon the race.
"For this incident, the Malta Marathon Organising Committee (MMOC) accepts full responsibility," the MMOC statement said.
"We have consulted the IAAF rule book in light of the following facts:
a) the Moroccan athletes ran further than the official race distance;
b) they were under the visual supervision of a race official at all times; and
c) by running off course the athletes did not gain any material advantage.
"For all of the above reasons the MMOC has officially awarded the Moroccans first and second place in the 25th Malta Marathon 2010.
"Without in any way wishing to play down the negative impact of this incident on the four runners concerned, the MMOC has already held open and candid meetings with the Moroccan and Dutch runners concerned and all three have expressed themselves completely satisfied with the way the unfortunate incident has been handled by the MMOC.
"All three have kindly accepted the MMOC's invitation to return next year to once again take part in the Malta Marathon."
The MMOC said that even with the best will in the world, there is no way this incident can be undone.
"We intend to reasonably compensate Jonathan Balzan for prize money he may have been denied by this incident despite the fact that his own stated anticipated predicted time would not have entitled him to any prize money," the statement added.
"The MMOC feels this compensation could enable him to run a marathon abroad in lieu of this missed opportunity."
The incident is deeply regretted, the MMOC said, and they are willing to do everything humanly possible to ensure that such an incident will never happen again.
Despite the unfortunate nature of the incident, the MMOC also said they feel that last Sunday's event was an immensely satisfying one for the vast majority of participants in the record entry field of over 1,400 competitors.
"We would like to once again express our appreciative thanks for the vital role played by our sponsor, partners, government agencies, officials, and helpers," the statement concluded.