A Scottish runner has been stripped of third place in an ultramarathon after data showed she had used a vehicle for part of the route, the race director said.
Key points:
- Joasia Zakrzewski finished third in the GB Ultras Manchester to Liverpool 80km race in the UK
- But race data showed that she had been in a car for a 4km stretch of the race
- The incident is now being investigated by UK Athletics
Data from the tracking system at the GB Ultras Manchester to Liverpool 80km race on April 7 showed that Joasia Zakrzewski, who represented Scotland in the marathon at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, used a car for a 4km stretch of the race, the BBC reported.
Race director Wayne Drinkwater said he had received information that a runner had gained an “unsporting, competitive advantage during a section of the event”.
He told the BBC: “Having reviewed the data from our race tracking system, GPX data, statements provided from our event team, other competitors and from the participant herself, we can confirm that a runner has now been disqualified from the event having taken vehicle transport during part of the route.”
Mr Drinkwater posted on the GB Ultras Community Facebook page that the issue is now in the hands of the Trail Running Association and UK Athletics.
The BBC quoted a running friend of Ms Zakrzewski as saying she had felt sick and wanted to drop out after arriving from Australia the night before the race.
“She has cooperated fully with the race organisers’ investigations, giving them a full account of what happened,” Adrian Stott said.
“She genuinely feels sorry for any upset caused.”
Ms Zakrzewski has not commented publicly on the incident and Reuters was not immediately able to contact her for comment.
Shortly after the race she posted to Facebook thanking the GB Ultras team.
“Once I was over the temperature shock, it was so lovely to run on beautiful English trails again,” she wrote.
“I can’t think of a better way to spend a first morning back in Blighty.”
Reuters/ABC
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