ISLAMABAD: A top Scottish ultra-marathon runner has been disqualified from a race for allegedly using a car for a portion of the route.
Dr Joasia Zakrzewski finished third in the 2023 GB Ultras Manchester to Liverpool 50-mile race – but she is thought to have covered 2.5 miles of the distance by car.
The 47-year-old runner, who works as a GP in Dumfries, was reportedly caught cheating after tracking information revealed that she attained a ‘super-human’ top speed of 35mph – far higher than Usain Bolt in his pomp.
A friend said Dr Zakrzewski had felt sick and was sorry for any upset.
She has since been stripped of the result, with the matter referred to UK Athletics.
Rivals demand baning Zakrzewski
Rivals have called for Zakrzewski to be kicked out of the sport of racing just weeks after she broke the world record for the most miles run by a woman in 48 hours.
Dr Zakrzewski has raced for Scotland and Great Britain in a number of championships – including the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
She also won a 24-hour race in Australia in 2020 after running more than 236km (146 miles), and has previously set national records for 200km and 100 miles races.
