The British ultrarunner who was disqualified after tracking data gave away her 'secret' has finally spoken out about the controversial scandal.
Dr Joasia Zakrzewski, a record-breaking athlete, was taken out of the race quite literally due to an anomaly which showed up on her running app during the 50-mile race.
The marathon runner, from Dumfries, has since broken her silence on the matter and revealed just how 'devastated' she is.
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The runner came third in the competitive race from Manchester to Liverpool which took place earlier this month (7 April).
Celebrating her win, Dr Zakrzewski posted a photo of her trophy alongside data from her running app on Twitter, which went on to reveal exactly how she finished the marathon with the impressive record time.
The data from Strava, a running/cycling app designed to track your pace and distance, pointed to a pretty peculiar irregularity in the runner's route.
People were quick to notice a massive 2.5 mile (4km) inconsistency during the famous GB Ultras race.
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The big gap definitely raised suspicion and it was later found that Dr Zakrzewski used a car for a section of the high-profile race.
She has since been stripped of the third-place trophy and has finally spoken up about the fateful blunder.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, the 47-year-old GP explained why she hopped in the car and travelled over two miles down the track during the race.
She claimed she had 'become lost on the course' around the half-way mark when her leg began to 'feel sore' and she 'started to limp'.
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Dr Zakrzewski went on to reveal that the pain was so intense that when she saw 'a friend on the side of the course' she had instantly 'accepted a lift in his car' to get to the next checkpoint and alert the marshals of her decision to pull out of the race, the news outlet reports.
"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'," she continued.
She then 'agreed to carry on' but alleged she was doing so in a 'non-competitive way'.
The GP added: "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."
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However, upon getting back in the race and crossing the finish line, Dr Zakrzewski accepted her medal and a third place wooden trophy and even posed for pictures.
Upon reflection, the runner admitted: "I made a massive error accepting the trophy and should have handed it back.
"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."
The third place accolade has since been rightfully awarded to Mel Sykes following the ordeal.
Commenting on the decision, Dr Zakrzewski said: "I'm an idiot and want to apologise to Mel. It wasn't malicious, it was miscommunication.
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"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."
She concluded: "I've given so much to the running world so I am devastated this has happened."
LADbible has previously contacted Dr Zakrzewski for comment on the matter.
Topics: UK News, Sport, Technology
Rhiannon Ingle