Later in life, Semple reversed his position on women competing in the marathon. Photographs of Semple attempting to rip Switzer's number off were widespread in the media. When another, Kathrine Switzer, entered the race officially, in violation of policy, Semple tried to stop her as she ran. In the 1967 Boston Marathon, one woman, Bobbi Gibb, ran and finished unofficially, as she had the previous year, because women were not allowed to participate. Jock's method of attack is apt to vary.' In 1957, Semple had narrowly escaped arrest for assault after attempting to tackle a runner in swim fins and a snorkeling mask. According to fellow race official Will Cloney: 'He hurls not only his body at them, but also a rather choice array of epithets. In a 1968 interview with Sports Illustrated, he called them 'These screwballs! These weirdies! These MIT boys! These Tufts characters! These Harvard guys!'.

He had been in the long-time habit of physically attacking those he perceived to be 'non serious' runners competing in the race, whether officially entered or running the course unofficially. Semple became known to a lay audience while working as a Boston Marathon race co-director. He was a masseur and physical therapist for the Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics, and a trainer for Olympic athletes. He moved to Boston after running in his first Boston Marathon and began to work in sport-related fields. Semple was born in Glasgow, Scotland and emigrated to the United States in 1921 to work as a cabinetmaker in Philadelphia. He subsequently oversaw implementation of qualifying times in 1970 and the formal admission of female runners in 1972. In 1967, he attained worldwide notoriety as a race official for the Boston Marathon, when he attempted to tear off the number of Kathrine Switzer, who was officially entered despite a ban on female competitors. John Duncan 'Jock' Semple (Octo– March 10, 1988) was a Scottish-American runner, physical therapist, trainer, and sports official.

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