Twenty-one people died of hypothermia when extremely weather suddenly descended on a government-organised 100 km marathon on May 22 within the rugged northwestern province of Gansu.
China has punished 27 officialdom deemed liable for last month's ultramarathon deaths, the state-run People's Daily said on Friday, one among the world's deadliest sporting tragedies in recent history.
Twenty-one people died of hypothermia when extremely weather suddenly descended on a government-organised 100 km marathon on May 22 within the rugged northwestern province of Gansu.
The head of Jingtai county, where the race was held, was dismissed from her post, the People's Daily reported, citing a news briefing by investigators.
Other organisers held accountable included the mayor and therefore the Communist Party chief of the town of Baiyin, to which the jurisdiction of Jingtai belongs.
Other punishments imposed on officials included major demerit ratings and disciplinary warnings.
Li Zuobi, the Jingtai county party chief, fell from his apartment house on June 9 and died, state media reported, adding that the police have ruled out homicide while Li's death was still being investigated.
It was not clear whether or not Li's death was linked to the ultramarathon.
The investigators said the tragedy was a public safety incident caused by extreme weather including high winds, heavy rain and plunging temperatures, also as unprofessional organisation and operation.
China's sport administration said last week it had been suspending all high-risk sports events that lack a supervisory body, established rules and clear safety standards.
The activities halted include mountain and desert trail sports, wingsuit flying and ultra-long distance running.
