Last year's SeptemberRimi" The winners' podium of the Vilnius Marathon was confirmed only in the spring. When doping samples were tested for the first time at the biggest running event in Lithuania, banned substances were found in one of them.
The doping scandal arose in the autumn due to Vilmantė Stašauskaitė's sample. She ran the prestigious marathon distance on September 10. covered in 2 hours 47 minutes 32 sec. and confidently took first place. In November, it became clear that Vilmantė Stašauskaitė, the winner of the "Rimi" Vilnius marathon and Lithuanian marathon champion, has been suspended and is facing fines. The case regarding the meldonium found in the sample, which lasted more than half a year, has finally been concluded, and the athlete herself has been given a 21-month disqualification.
Results of the disqualified runner in 2023. "Rimi" in the Vilnius marathon is declared cancelled, and the organizers share a message on the event's Facebook page about the list of new winners and prize winners:
"After the end of the anti-doping investigation process at the Rimi Vilnius Marathon, we announce the updated top three of the women's marathon distance and the 2023 Lithuanian Marathon Championship.
The top three winners of the "Rimi" Vilnius Marathon:
2st place - Inga Bartkė (58:02:XNUMX)
Second place - Gitana Akmanavičiūtė (3:04:09)
Third place - Synnøve Aune (03:11:59)
The top three prize winners of the Lithuanian Marathon Championship:
2st place - Inga Bartkė (58:02:XNUMX)
Second place - Gitana Akmanavičiūtė (3:04:09)
III place - Eglė Ragaišytė (03:24:36)
We sincerely congratulate the athletes and regret that you could not get on the right step of the podium on September 10, but we hope that your motivation and love for sports did not suffer from this, and we are happy for your victories. The winner and prize winners will be awarded in the near future."
According to the organizers, after the official end of the athlete Vilmantė Stašauskaitė's case and finding out that V. Stašauskaitė is disqualified, the new "Rimi" marathon champion will be paid a monetary prize, all prize winners will be awarded prizes according to the updated competition results.
