Tracking knowledge from a operating app has tripped up a Scottish ultrarunner, after it revealed a 2.5 mile anomaly throughout a high-profile race.
Dr Joasia Zakrzewski, a record-breaking athlete who continuously runs races of tons of of miles, completed third within the 2023 GB Ultras Manchester to Liverpool 50-mile race earlier this month, simply weeks after successful a 48-hour race in Taipei throughout 255 miles.
However, due to knowledge uploaded to Strava, a operating and biking app, it was later found she had used a automotive for a 2.5 mile stretch of the race.
The 47-year-old has since been stripped of the outcome, with the case referred to UK Athletics.
Speaking to the BBC, a good friend stated she had been poorly after arriving into the UK solely hours earlier from Australia, and needed to apologise for what she did.
Adrian Stott stated: “The race didn’t go to plan. She said she was feeling sick and tired in the race and wanted to drop out,” he stated.
“She has cooperated fully with the race organisers’ investigations, giving them a full account of what happened.”
Race director Wayne Drinkwater, stated he was given info {that a} runner had an “unsporting, competitive advantage during a section of the event”.
He stated: “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.”
Third place was handed to Mel Sykes, who tweeted concerning the incident, saying: “The sad thing in all this is that it completely takes the p*** out of the race organisers, fellow competitors and fair sport.
“How can somebody who is aware of they’ve cheated cross a end line, acquire a medal/trophy and have their pictures taken?!
“For all the over analysing of data we do these days, it’s also a bloody great tool for situations like this. You have to be superwoman to be running 1:40min/miles at 90bpm with zero cadence.
“The audacity of importing the info, full with trophy photograph, makes this worse!!”
She added: “Racing is racing. No matter who you might be and the way a lot you have ready, issues go flawed on race day. Suck it up. Take it on the chin. Move on to the following one. Being a cheat isn’t OK.”
Dr Zakrzewski works as a GP in Dumfries, and has raced for Scotland and Great Britain in varied championships – together with the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
She additionally gained a 24-hour race in Australia in 2020 after operating greater than 236km (146 miles), and has beforehand set nationwide data for 200km and 100 miles races.
Sky News has contacted Dr Zakrzewski for additional remark.
Source: information.sky.com”