BOSTON, Mass. — An Adventist runner was disqualified from the Boston Marathon this year after refusing to pin his race bib to his shirt, citing the book of Leviticus.
Silas Goodwin, a 42-year-old accountant and longtime runner, had qualified for the prestigious race but ran into trouble when he arrived at the starting line. Race officials informed Goodwin that he needed to pin his number to the front of his shirt, as is standard protocol in marathons.
Goodwin, however, balked at the instructions. “Leviticus 19:19 clearly states that we should not wear clothing made of two different kinds of material,” he argued, gesturing to his moisture-wicking polyester running shirt. “Pinning a paper bib to this would be a clear violation of biblical principles.”
Race officials were flummoxed by Goodwin’s objection. They tried to reason with him, explaining that the rule was in place for identification and timing purposes, not as a fashion statement. Goodwin remained resolute, insisting that he could not in good conscience affix the foreign material to his garment.
As the starting time approached, officials had no choice but to disqualify Goodwin from the race for failing to comply with the rules. A disappointed Goodwin was seen walking away from the starting line, muttering about “the world’s attack on biblical values.”
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