Xinjiang cotton row: Shanghai Marathon drops Adidas shirt sponsor ahead of weekend race; Wuxi Marathon ends relationship with Asics

Organisers send text messages to competitors apologising for rescinding half marathon running shirts as 6,000 expected at weekend

Last weekend’s Wuxi Marathon stops partnership with Asics after company’s conflicting messaging over Xinjiang cotton procurement

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Runners compete in the 2020 Shanghai Marathon. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 4:09pm, 15 Apr 2021Updated: 4:41pm, 15 Apr 2021

The 2021 Shanghai Half Marathon has pulled its Adidas-sponsored racing uniforms ahead of this Sunday’s race, according to Shanghai-based state digital news outlet ThePaper.cn.

Organisers sent text messages to all participants regarding uniforms on Thursday, saying the event would no longer provide any competition uniform and would provide refunds where appropriate.

Reports said the original kits included Adidas sponsorship, among others, with images from the previous events showing some runners with similarly sponsored running wear. According to Sina sources familiar with the matter, organisers already dropped their working relationship with the multinational brand last year.

Organisers apologised for the last-minute change but did not provide a reason for the uniform turnaround.

A runner prepares with thousands of fellow competitors at the start of the 2018 Shanghai Marathon. Photo: Handout

They gave competitors two options: the refund of their 160 yuan (HK$190) application fee should they want to withdraw from the race for whatever reason; or if they opt to continue, they will be refunded 60 yuan for the initially included uniform fee.

Last December, the US government banned cotton products from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps over human rights concerns of Uygur and Muslim communities. International brands such as Adidas, H&M, Nike and Burberry subsequently issued statements saying they would not use Xinjiang-sourced cotton.