19 April 2023 , 13:33
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A British runner admits she made a "massive error" and wouldn't "purposefully cheat" after being disqualified from an ultra-marathon for taking a car ride for two-and-a-half miles of the journey.
Joasia Zakrzewski finished third in this month's GB Ultras race but has been stripped of the bronze medal. The 47-year-old took part in the 2023 50-mile race which went from Manchester to Liverpool on 7 April, but midway through found she was struggling with injury and pulled to the side.
She saw a friend on the side of the course and accepted a lift in his car as she planned to tell marshals she was withdrawing from the event at the next checkpoint. They urged her to keep going and she made an effort to finish, later welcoming the plaudits that came her way.
She told BBC Scotland: "When I got to the checkpoint I told them I was pulling out and that I had been in the car, and they said 'you will hate yourself if you stop'. I agreed to carry on in a non-competitive way. I made sure I didn't overtake the runner in front when I saw her as I didn't want to interfere with her race."
Zakrzewski went on to say: "I made a massive error accepting the trophy and should have handed it back. I was tired and jetlagged and felt sick. I hold my hands up, I should have handed them back and not had pictures done but I was feeling unwell and spaced out and not thinking clearly."
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Her disqualification means third place has now been awarded to Mel Sykes, but the nature of the late change means the new bronze medal winner wasn't able to enjoy the moment in its entirety.
The Brit has faced calls to be banned and abuse on social media"I'm an idiot and want to apologise to Mel," added the Scot, who now lives near Sydney in Australia. "It wasn't malicious, it was miscommunication. I would never purposefully cheat and this was not a target race, but I don't want to make excuses. Mel didn't get the glory at the finish and I'm really sorry she didn't get that."
The director of the GB Ultras race, Wayne Drinkwater, said that he received information after the ultramarathon that a participant had gained an "unsporting, competitive advantage during a section of the event". Data was then analysed and statements taken before the disqualification decision was made.
Back in February Zakrzewski won the 48-hour race outright at the Taipei Ultramarathon in Taiwan - setting a world record in the process. She said she was "devastated" by the events and was extremely upset to see "haters" on social media urging her to be banned for life.