SCOTTISH ultra-marathon runner Joasia Zakrzewski has been disqualified from a race – because she was found to have used a car.
The 47-year-old from Dumfries had finished third in the GB Ultras Manchester to Liverpool race on April 7.
But she is believed to have travelled 2.5 miles in a car after mapping data found she covered a mile in one minute and 40 seconds.
Wayne Drinkwater, the director of the GB Ultras race, told the BBC it was “very disappointing”.
READ MORE: SNP's Kate Forbes lays out 'important' caveat to BBC interview
“The issue has been investigated and, 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,” he said.
“The matter is now with the TRA (Trail Running Association) and, in turn, UK Athletics (UKA) as the regulatory bodies.”
Zakrezewski finished 14th in the 2014 Commonwealth Games marathon in Scotland and has set records in the UK over 100 and 200 miles.
Third place has been awarded to Mel Sykes.
Adrian Stott, a friend of the runner, told the BBC she is “genuinely sorry” and felt unwell before and during the race.
“The race didn’t go to plan. She said she was feeling sick and tired on the race and wanted to drop out,” he said.
“She has co-operated fully with the race organisers’ investigations, giving them a full account of what happened.
“She genuinely feels sorry for any upset caused.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here