HYROX competitor was disqualified over a separate toilet incident last month

A HYROX competitor has complained of double standards after he was disqualified for using the toilet before his race, while another athlete who soiled herself on the course won her event at the weekend.

Competing in the Men's Open category on 13 August, Malaysian native Zarif Zakaria was a victim of 'nature calling' right before the event started.

But after finishing the endurance race with a time of 1:27:48 in Bangkok, Zakaria was slapped with disqualification.

This came after Joanna Wietrzyk visibly soiled herself during a HYROX event in Beijing, China, last weekend before going on to win.

Many have reacted with fury - citing hygiene concerns - and HYROX has revised its rules to prevent a similar incident happening again.

Zakaria complained via Threads on Tuesday (15 September): "I got DQ'd just for going to the toilet before the race. How come people can race while having [diarrhoea] and not get DQ'd? Maybe it's time for me to retire from HYROX."

Zarif Zakaria was disqualified from a HYROX event over a toilet incident last month (HYROX Bangkok)

However, the credibility of his story was questioned by another user, who directly mentioned how some participants she knew at HYROX Jakarta also visited the bog before their start time but weren't reprimanded.

"Maybe it was something else you did?" she wrote, to which Zakaria replied: "Late start. Going to toilet before the race the point is why late start got DQ & why can athletes continue racing even when they have [diarrhoea] during the race?"

The HYROX rulebook explains: "Racers start in waves based on their division. The start always takes place exclusively with racers of the same division."

A HYROX US guide says waves of athletes are released 10 to 20 minutes apart. The rulebook lists the penalty for an incorrect start time without permission as disqualification.

As a business, HYROX is in contentious territory after allowing Australian record-holder Wietrzyk to complete her course last weekend despite soiling herself midway through.

In Beijing, the 24-year-old was pictured and videoed by observers with faecal stains decorating both legs. She simply carried on, unbothered, and even won her event.

Joanna Wietrzyk's win has caused controversy (Fred Lee/Getty Images)

When the complaints eventually arrived at his door, HYROX co-founder Moritz Fuerste made a public statement.

"I need to address all of you directly concerning the recent events in China," it began.

"I apologise to all that were directly or indirectly affected, as well as to everyone who felt like we did not handle the situation like we should have. HYROX made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race. In the end it is my job to foresee the potential incidents - and I did not.

"Of course, we started improving event processes, plus making rulebook changes immediately. As of this moment, there are new rules and procedures in place to prevent situations like this from happening again. We learn and try to get better everyday."

HYROX has already introduced a new rule, which reads: "If a racer’s blood, vomit, urine, or faeces poses a welfare or contamination risk to the racer or to other racers, a Race Director may withdraw the racer from the race on medical grounds, in line with HYROX’s medical and hygiene SOPs.

“Any such withdrawal is recorded on the leaderboard as Did Not Finish [DNF].”