Scottish runner Joasia Zakrzewski gets 12 month ban for using vehicle in ultra-marathon

Long distance runner Joasia Zakrzewski was banned for 12 months by a UK athletics disciplinary body on Wednesday for riding a car during a 50-mile race in April and accepting third place.

Data from the tracking system at the GB Ultras Manchester to Liverpool showed that Zakrzewski, who represented Scotland in the marathon at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, used a car for a 4km stretch of the race.

ALSO READ | Beckham interview: Manchester United needs change in ownership

The 47-year-old, who was stripped of her third place, claimed she had informed race officials about having been in a car and finished the race “in a non-competitive way”.

The Independent Disciplinary Panel of UK Athletics disagreed with her in its verdict.

“The claimant had collected the trophy at the end of the race, something which she should have not done if she was completing the race on a non-competitive basis,” they said.

“She also did not seek to return the trophy in the week following the race.”