The organisers of a half-marathon in Italy are facing accusations of racism after they closed the race to African athletes.

The Trieste half-marathon takes place on May 5, passing the 19th-century Miramare Castle on the Gulf of Trieste in northeastern Italy.

But this year only European professionals will be able to run the race, which was won last year by Olivier Irabaruta of Burundi.

The Trieste half-marathon on May 5 will not allow African professionals to race, its manager has said (file image)

Race manager Fabio Carini told Saturday's edition of La Repubblica that the move was to make a stand against the exploitation of African runners.

'This year we have decided only to hire European athletes to make the point that measures must be taken to regulate what is currently a trade in high-value African athletes, who are purely and simply exploited, which is something we can no longer accept.'

Interviewed on Rai Television Carini spoke of athletes who were 'under-paid and treated indecently in relation to their sporting value'.

He and local officials said African runners can still directly sign up for the race.

Carini came under fire from an Italian member of the European Parliament, Isabella de Monte, who called the decision 'serious and unworthy'.

The Trieste half-marathon in northern Italy takes place around Miramare Castle on the Gulf of Trieste (pictured)

'We are preventing professionals taking part in a race because they come from Africa....

'The situation is in the process of slipping away from us and we are returning to the dark days,' the MEP for the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats said.

She added: 'The only way to react to this type of decision is outrage.

'Sport is about sharing, unifying, equality, loyalty and respect, that's what we teach our children.

Twitter users condemned the decision as racist, with some calling for a boycott of the Trieste half-marathon

'But what example are we giving them with this type of decision?'

Internet users condemned the decision, with many saying Carini was looking for an 'excuse' to help an Italian win the race. Others called for a mass boycott of the race.

The Trieste half-marathon controversy comes days after Lazio fans racially abused two AC Milan players in the Italian Cup semi-final.

This was the latest in a series of racist incidents in Serie A this season.

Earlier this month, Juventus youngster Moise Kean was racially abused in a game at Cagliari.