Kenyan Marathoner Disqualified After Wearing Unapproved Carbon-Plated Shoes In Kuala Lumpur

Kenyan runner Paul Matheka was disqualified from the Kuala Lumpur Marathon for wearing unapproved Voltra JET shoes.

Kenyan marathoner Paul Matheka was made to learn a painful lesson about race-day rules after being disqualified from the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon for unknowingly wearing an unapproved pair of racing shoes.

Matheka, who had traveled to Malaysia to compete in the prestigious World Athletics Elite Label event on October 5, found himself without a suitable pair of racing shoes on the eve of the race.

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In a last-minute decision, he bought a pair of Voltra JET carbon-plated shoes at the event’s expo, breaking one of running’s golden rules: “nothing new on race day.”

Despite the gear gamble, Matheka ran a strong race, finishing seventh overall in just under two hours and 20 minutes—a time good enough to earn him US$1,000 in prize money. 

However, his achievement was short-lived. Post-race inspections revealed that the Voltra JET model he wore was not listed on World Athletics’ approved footwear list, resulting in his disqualification.

The disqualification stemmed from strict footwear regulations that apply to World Athletics Elite Label races. 

All shoes worn in such events must appear on the governing body’s approved list, which ensures fair competition by verifying that each model complies with limits on stack height, carbon plate configuration, and market availability.

“It was an honest mistake by both sides,” Voltra wrote in a social media post.

“We couldn’t sit still knowing that a passionate runner’s effort was left unrewarded because of a technicality.”

A costly lesson in compliance

Voltra, a Malaysian running shoe brand that sells primarily online, quickly accepted responsibility for the mix-up.

According to the company, Matheka had purchased the Voltra JETs at its booth during the marathon expo, unaware that the shoes had not yet been submitted to World Athletics for approval.

 Both the athlete and the brand said they did not realize the Kuala Lumpur race required shoes from the approved list.

To make amends, Voltra decided to compensate Matheka with the prize money he had lost due to the disqualification. “Sometimes, rules stop a winner. But we want to keep him running,” the company said in its statement.

The shoe that sparked controversy

The Voltra JET, the shoe at the center of the controversy, is designed for elite-level racing performance. 

Weighing just 209 grams, it features a full-length carbon plate embedded in Pebax foam—a lightweight, responsive material used by many top running brands. Early reviewers have compared its performance favorably with other leading marathon models from brands like Nike, Adidas, and Asics.