Having finished in 2:25:46 hours, she was ranked the seventh fastest athlete in the world that year, but was only sixth in the race itself, won by Wang Junxia almost two minutes quicker.

[9] The significant improvements to world records at the Chinese Games, and the strength in depth of the times, attracted international consternation of the results at the national event.

American distance runner Mary Slaney said the performances would "ruin the sport" and head of USA Track and Field Ollan Cassell said "If these suspicions aren't cleared up, it's a big problem".

[12] Ma Liyan's performances, and those by others in her group, remain listed as among the fastest women's times in long-distance running, but that legacy has been tempered by scepticism around the circumstances of the results.

In October 1994, Ma Liyan, now running under the name Lu Ou,[16][17] won the bronze medal in 8:58.58 minutes at the Asian Games in Hiroshima, behind teammate Zhang Linli and Japan's Harumi Hiroyama.