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London Marathon runners selling medals on eBay for up to £100

The 2017 London Marathon medals before being given out to runners: REUTERS
The 2017 London Marathon medals before being given out to runners: REUTERS

London Marathon runners are selling their finishers’ medals and other merchandise on eBay for nearly £100.

Just hours after crossing the finish line in Sunday’s gruelling 26.2-mile course, some of the runners listed their coveted medals for sale on popular auction site eBay.

As well as the souvenir medals, which hang from a red ribbon and feature the skyline of London, runners have also put other memorabilia up for sale.

Also listed on eBay are finishers t-shirts, branded pens and spectators guides for the 37th annual event.

One seller, who said profits from the sale will go to charities Water Aid and Save the Children, wrote: "My dad has finished the London Marathon today in 2.50.06, an absolutely cracking time.

Some of the listings on the auction website. (eBay)
Some of the listings on the auction website. (eBay)

"He has decided to sell his top and medal and donate the money to his chosen charities.

"Listing contains official finishers' 2017 London Marathon Medal. Only a few hours old."

The listing has attracted around 26 offers, with a top bid of £91.99.

Another medal seller wrote: "I'm selling this for a friend. Great collector's item."

One runner, who is auctioning off a T-shirt and medal and has attracted bids of around £80, wrote: "Ran it today but have medals from previous years so do not need this."

Other medals sold for around £70, while a red plastic bag sporting the words "Virgin Money London Marathon 2017" is being sold for £3 plus 80p postage and packaging.

The sales have been denounced on online runners' forums as "tacky", with some questioning why competitors would want to part with their hard-earned prize.

This year's event, known as the "mental health marathon" thanks to the official charity Heads Together championed by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, saw a record 40,382 runners pound the capital's streets.

Reporting by Press Association.