The former world 48-hour record holder said jet lag left her unable to think straight after winning bronze in April’s Manchester-Liverpool event, despite having driven part of the 50-mile distance

Joasia Zakrzewski made headlines in April when she rode a friend’s car for 2.5 miles of the 50 miles to reach the podium at the Manchester-Liverpool Super Race.

“When I got to the checkpoint, I told them I was getting out of the car, and I was in the car the whole time, and they said ‘If you stop, you’re going to hate yourself,'” Zakrzewski said at the time. “I agreed to continue in a non-competitive manner. When I saw her I made sure I didn’t pass the runner in front of me because I didn’t want to interfere with her race.”

Zakrzewski, who recently set a short-lived 48-hour world record, admitted she made a mistake in taking photos and accepting trophies and medals after the race. She added that she was suffering from jet lag after returning from Australia the night before and was unable to think straight. “I made a huge mistake accepting the trophy and should have returned it,” she said.

However, seven months later she was handed a 12-month ban by British Athletics. The governing body’s disciplinary panel rejected her explanation and banned her from competing, coaching or managing for a year after finding she breached the UK Athlete Code of Conduct.

Joe Zakrzewski

In its ruling, the panel said Zakrzewski’s claims were “contrary to the evidence of law enforcement officers, which was not challenged or contested by the defendant through cross-examination at the hearing.”

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Zakrzewski said in a letter to the panel: “As stated above, I accept my actions that day, that I did travel by car, then completed the run, crossed the finish line, and was undeservedly awarded a medal. And the trophy, I did.” Didn’t go back right away like I should have done. “

But Zakrzewski denied she violated the athlete code of conduct by intentionally cheating or concealing the fact that she drove during part of the competition.

Josiah Zakczewski (David Hewitson)

She argued that she had told bailiffs she was injured and decided to continue playing on a non-competition basis. However, when bailiffs were questioned about the incident, her version of events did not match their version.

Furthermore, Zakrzewski only admitted to using the car when challenged by event organizers. “The respondent attempted to defend herself by claiming she was embarrassed, but ultimately she chose not to disclose what had happened rather than embarrass herself,” the panel said.

What’s more, the panel said she posted about the race on social media without disclosing that she was completing it on a non-competitive basis.

Their panel said they “concluded that the defendant did attempt to conceal that she had completed part of the race on a non-competitive basis and that when accepting the third place trophy and portraying her as having finished third in the race, she Violation of the Senior Athlete Code of Conduct.”

She could have been suspended for two years, but taking into account her mental state that day, her full cooperation with the investigation, the fact that she was punished, and other factors, the panel imposed a one-year penalty on her. “Social media trial” and her previous “clear and impeccable record”.

Zakrzewski has the right to appeal if she wishes.

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