A 70-year-old runner who had been accused of cheating in order to set a marathon record, has been found dead.

Officials said the body of Frank Meza, who just days ago was disqualified from the Los Angeles marathon amid clams he cheated to set a course record for his age group, was found in the Los Angles river.

A spokesperson for the coroner’s office said a post-mortem test had yet to be carried out.

On Monday, officials had disqualified Meza after reviewing video of his performance in March’s event, for which he set a new course record for men of his age – 2 hours, 53 minutes and 10 seconds. They said it appeared he had left the course and reentered the race.

“The video evidence is confirmed by a credible eyewitness report and our calculation that Dr Meza’s actual running time for at least one 5K course segment would have had to have been faster than the current 70-74 age-group 5K world record,” the organisers said in a statement.

Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 Show all 20 1 /20 Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 A man competes in the stage 2 of the 34th edition of the Marathon des Sables between Tisserdimine and Kourci Dial Zaid in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 8, 2019. - The 34th edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 TOPSHOT - A competitor splashes water on his face during the fourth stage of the 34th edition of the Marathon des Sables between Jebel El Mraier and Rich Mbirika in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 10, 2019. - The 34th edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 People compete in the stage 5 of the 34rd edition of the Marathon des Sables between El Borouj and Tisserdimine in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 12, 2019. - The 34rd edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 Competitors queue before settling down in the bivouac on the eve of the start of the 34rd edition of the Marathon des Sables in the Moroccan Sahara desert in El Borouj, central Morocco, on April 6, 2019. - The 34rd edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 TOPSHOT - People compete in the stage 5 of the 34rd edition of the Marathon des Sables between El Borouj and Tisserdimine in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 12, 2019. - The 34rd edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 TOPSHOT - People compete in the stage 5 of the 34rd edition of the Marathon des Sables between El Borouj and Tisserdimine in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 12, 2019. - The 34rd edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 TOPSHOT - A man competes in the stage 2 of the 34th edition of the Marathon des Sables between Tisserdimine and Kourci Dial Zaid in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 8, 2019. - The 34th edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 Competitors medicate their feet in a tent after finishing the 76,3 km of the first part of the stage 4 of the 34th edition of the Marathon des Sables between Jebel El Mraier and Rich Mbirika in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 10, 2019. - The 34th edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 TOPSHOT - A child runs next to a man who competes in the stage 2 of the 34th edition of the Marathon des Sables between Tisserdimine and Kourci Dial Zaid in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 8, 2019. - The 34th edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 Competitors stop to get water from a well during the fourth stage of the 34rd edition of the Marathon des Sables between Jebel El Mraier and Rich Mbirika in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 10, 2019. - The 34rd edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 TOPSHOT - People compete in the fourth stage of the 34th edition of the Marathon des Sables between Jebel El Mraier and Rich Mbirika in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 10, 2019. - The 34th edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 A competitor runs by inhabitants during the first stage of the 34th edition of the "Marathon des Sables" (also known as Sahara Marathon) between El Borouj and Tisserdmine in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 7, 2019. - This event is a six-day, 251 km-long ultramarathon, which is approximately the distance of six regular marathons. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 Children look at people competing in the fourth stage of the 34rd edition of the Marathon des Sables between Jebel El Mraier and Rich Mbirika in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 10, 2019. - The 34rd edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 A competitor settles down in the bivouac on the eve of the start of the 34rd edition of the Marathon des Sables in the Moroccan Sahara desert in El Borouj, central Morocco, on April 6, 2019. - The 34rd edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 TOPSHOT - People compete in the stage 2 of the 34th edition of the Marathon des Sables between Tisserdimine and Kourci Dial Zaid in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 8, 2019. - The 34th edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 Competitors run past inhabitants during the stage 3 of the 34rd edition of the Marathon des Sables between Kourci Dial Zaid and Jebel El MraÃ¯er in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 9, 2019. - The 34rd edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 Competitors receive foot care during the third stage of the 34rd edition of the Marathon des Sables (also known as Sahara Marathon) between Kourci Dial Zaid and Jebel El MraÃ¯er in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 9, 2019. - This event is a six-day, 251 km-long ultramarathon, which is approximately the distance of six regular marathons. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 Competitors stretch in the bivouac after finishing the 76,3 km of the stage 4 of the 34th edition of the Marathon des Sables between Jebel El Mraier and Rich Mbirika in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 11, 2019. - The 34th edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 People compete in the stage 5 of the 34rd edition of the Marathon des Sables between El Borouj and Tisserdimine in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 12, 2019. - The 34rd edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from Marathon des Sables 2019 Moroccan trail runner Rachid el-Morabity (R) is congratulated after winning the 34rd edition of the Marathon des Sables between El Borouj and Tisserdimine in the southern Moroccan Sahara desert, on April 12, 2019. - The 34rd edition of the marathon is a live stage 250 kilometres race through a formidable landscape in one of the world's most inhospitable climates. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP)JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP/Getty Images

The runner denied the allegations.

“All kinds of allegations were being thrown at me,” he told the Los Angeles Times.

“It was pretty traumatic.”

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The activities of Meza, a retired physician who began entering marathons in his 60s after coaching young athletes, had come under suspicion for his fast splits and finishes in marathons across California.

Derek Murphy, an amateur investigator who operates the website MarathonInvestigation.com and probed Meza’s finishes in various races, posted on the site that he was also “deeply saddened” by the runner’s death.

“There will be a time for comment and a broader discussion, but at this point, I feel that we should all allow those close to Frank the space to grieve,” Mr Murphy wrote.

“My heart goes out to his family and friends, and I wish for everyone to be respectful and to keep his loved ones in mind.”

In a statement, the coroner’s office said: “On July 4, Frank Meza (DOB: 1/16/49) was found down in the LA Riverbed, underneath Figueroa Street. Meza, of South Pasadena, was pronounced dead at 10.05am. An autopsy is pending”