A WHEELCHAIR racer, who is not disabled, has been banned from the Great North Run following his expulsion from the London Marathon.

Daniel Sadler, 24, who has no disabilities, will not be allowed to race in the Newcastle to South Shields event this year. But The Northern Echo has been told Mr Sadler refused to hand back his £200 prize money after being disqualified from his third place last year.

Mr Sadler, who trains with Olympic paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson, of Redcar, east Cleveland, has taken part in wheelchair races for ten years. Although he has never claimed to be disabled, organisers of the Great North Run say it is unfair for him to compete.

A spokesman for the Great North Run said: "He classes himself as wheelchair athlete, but this is a problem to some people who are really disabled and find it quite insulting.

"After last year's race, we responded to a query from a disabled athlete who was unhappy that Mr Sadler was given third place.

"We said to him we were concerned about the situation and asked for his prize money back. He refused to give the money back, so we drew a line under it, but we have prohibited him from taking part in the event this year.

"In a strange way he is at a disadvantage, because his legs make him heavier than the other wheelchair athletes."

Mr Sadler, who began training in a wheelchair alongside his father, who is disabled, said: "The idea you have to be disabled to race is a very backward and patronising view."

The British Wheelchair Sports Foundation is backing the ban, although The British Wheelchair Racing Association agrees Mr Sadler has not cheated.