The outcome of the 25th Malta marathon, held today, has been thrown into doubt after the lead car took a wrong turning and caused two of the leading runners to drop out.

The incident happened at Mtarfa as the runners were coming down from Mdina.

Four runners were running immediately behind the car when it left the designated course. Two of them, both Moroccans, stayed with the car until it eventually rejoined the course but another two dropped out in confusion.

The two, Maltese athlete Jonathan Balzan and Dutchman Neals Strik protested forcefully with the marathon organisers and insisted that the result must be annulled.

The first at the finish line in Sliema was Moroccan Abdel Hhakimi el Fehi in a time of 2. 32. 56, but such was the disruption that that time was some eight minutes up than last year's edition.

Some 1,400 runners took part in the run, including a record 700 Maltese.

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