Arias may be banned in Milo race

Former Cebu road running queen Merlita Arias may be celebrating her victory in the Kota Kinabalo race in Malaysia but something unpleasant is waiting her here when she returns home.

Arias may face a ban in the next year's staging of the Milo National Marathon should she stand by her decision to skip the final battle of the Milo Marathon this weekend.

Arias said her coach advised her to skip the Milo finals as she is still exhausted following a victorious bid in Malaysia.

Also, Arias said her flight back to the Philippines had been re-scheduled.

Arias was supposed to represent Cebu in the 42-kilometer Milo finals this Sunday in Manila along with Christy Sevilleno and Leiszl Lumindas-Getuelas in the women's division and Rogelio Reli, Joseph Penales and Roland Montebon in the men's side.

Ricky Ballesteros, who spearheaded the local organizing body of the Cebu leg, said Arias will not be banned from the Milo race next year if she will return the prize money she got for being the third placer in the Cebu leg of the Milo action.

She will be replaced by fourth placer Sharon Vega.