The London Marathon has announced it will no longer use X, formerly Twitter, citing the platform's "descent into a gutter" under Elon Musk's ownership.
Race director Hugh Brasher revealed the decision was made in January, despite the event's account having more than 190,000 followers.
The move comes after British long-distance runner Eilish McColgan faced abhorrent abuse on the platform ahead of Sunday's 2025 event.
Brasher described the social media site as "particularly vitriolic" and lacking the positive values the marathon represents.
The London Marathon gets underway this weekend
PA
The London Marathon's official account last posted on X on 17 January 2025, marking the start of their boycott of the platform.
"It was ceasing to be a rational conversation. It was ceasing to be a positive place to be," Brasher explained when discussing the decision.
The race director, who has been involved with the London Marathon since it was established by his father Chris and John Disley in 1981, was unequivocal about the reasoning.
McColgan, a Commonwealth 10,000m champion, recently shared that she has become "numb" to negative comments about her body shape on social media.
The 34-year-old athlete was accused of "looking like a skeleton" and having anorexia after posting a video of herself training on a treadmill.
Her mother and coach, Liz McColgan, who won the 1996 London Marathon, condemned the responses as "demeaning and abusive".
Brasher praised McColgan's response to the trolling, saying: "How she has held herself and responded to that is exemplary."
"The London Marathon is about positivity," Brasher emphasised. "It is a force for good and we didn't feel that channel shared those values."
He reflected on the founding principles of the event, noting that one of his father's aims was "to show that on occasion, the family of humankind could be joyous together and celebrate together."
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Elon Musk bought X, formerly Twitter, in October 2022
ReutersMore than 56,000 people are expected to participate in Sunday's event, which could break the current record for marathon finishers.
The 2025 London Marathon is poised to surpass the 55,646 finishers at last year's New York Marathon.
The event will once again raise millions of pounds for charity, continuing its proud tradition of community support.
In addition to the elite races, the London Marathon will maintain its policy of allowing transgender women to participate in the mass event, whilst prohibiting them from competing in elite and championship female races.
