Former Great Britain ultra-marathon representative Joasia Zakrzewski has been disqualified from a race for reportedly using a car for a portion of the course.
The 47-year-old Scot finished third in the 2023 GB Ultras Manchester to Liverpool race, but has since been accused of travelling by car for approximately 4km of the 80km journey.
Suspicions were aroused, when GPX mapping data revealed Zakrzewski - who represented Scotland in the marathon at the 2014 Commonwealth Games - covered 1.6km in just 1m 40s.
Organisers were informed after the race that a runner had gained an "unsporting, competitive advantage during a section of the event".
"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," race director Wayne Drinkwater told the BBC.
The matter has been referred to UK Athletics for further investigation.
A friend of Zakrzewski, Adrian Stott, said the runner had felt unwell, after travelling for 48 hours from Australia to compete.
"The race didn't go to plan," Stott told the BBC. "She was feeling sick and tired on the race, and wanted to drop out.
"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."
In February, Zakrzewski won the Taipei Ultramarathon in Taiwan with a world record across 411km.
She's also represented Great Britain at the world 100km championships, winning silver in 2011, and bronze in 2014 and 2015.
She holds several records, which include the British 200k and Scottish 24-hour.
