Russian marathoner defies IAAF ban, wins race

A Russian marathon runner has been disqualified and faces further sanctions after winning a race in Japan at a time when his country is under suspension from global track and field, the IAAF said Tuesday

Viktor Ugarov won the Kanazawa marathon on Sunday, two days after Russia was provisionally suspended from competition by the International Association of Athletics Federations following allegations of state-sponsored doping.

"The event organizer is disqualifying his record and no appearance or prize money will be paid," the IAAF told The Associated Press by email on Tuesday, adding that it would write to the Russian federation seeking disciplinary proceedings against Ugarov.

Ugarov's winning time of 2 hours 17 minutes, 19 seconds was briefly listed on the IAAF website as a new personal best. The IAAF called the listing a "technical issue" and later removed it from the site.

Russian athletics federation general secretary Mikhail Butov told the AP by telephone that he had not heard that Ugarov had competed in Sunday's race but said the case would be looked into.

"We couldn't physically inform each athlete, so it's probably more of a problem for the organizers who allowed the athlete to take part in the competition," Butov said.

The Russian federation said on its website: "Athletes who break the suspension and those who compete abroad are in danger of sanctions from the ARAF, including suspension."

In a separate case, the Japanese athletics federation said Russian Olympic bronze medalist Tatyana Arkhipova was prevented from taking part in Sunday's Saitama marathon because of Russia's suspension.

Under the terms of Russia's ban, Russian athletes can only compete within Russia in domestic events until the suspension is lifted. Russian officials have promised reforms and said they want to be able to compete again within three months, in time for the world indoor track and field championships in Portland in March.

Also Tuesday, a Russian Paralympic runner received a nine-month suspension after testing positive for a cannabis-related substance. The International Paralympic Committee said Alexander Zverev's ban runs through May 5.

Zverev won a silver medal in the 400 meters at the 2012 Paralympics in London. He competed in the T13 classification for partially sighted athletes.