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Athletics chiefs are under fire after a dire opening two days at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, with conditions described as being like "hell".

The event’s showpiece 100m men’s final took place in front of a sparse stadium, where organisers have sold just over 50,000 tickets for the entire 10 days - despite the Khalifa Stadium holding 40,000.

And athletes are furious with the IAAF after farcical and shocking scenes in both Friday night’s Women’s Marathon and the Men’s 50km race walk the following evening.

The women's race, which started at midnight in 32 degree heat, saw 28 of the 68 starters withdraw amid what have been described as “brutal” conditions.

Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich took the gold medal, with a winning time of two hours 32 minutes 43 seconds, as athletes attempted to complete six 7km loops of the Corniche in the Qatar capital.

(Image: NOUSHAD THEKKAYIL/EPA-EFE/REX) (Image: ALI HAIDER/EPA-EFE/REX)

Prior to the race, the IAAF issued a statement confirming the marathon would go ahead, saying it had "done everything possible to minimise the heat-related risks" and that the race would be "run at an acceptable level of health risk".

But athletes and coaches fumed post-race, blasting chiefs for ‘“disrespect” and comparing themselves to "guinea pigs."

(Image: ALI HAIDER/EPA-EFE/REX) (Image: ALI HAIDER/EPA-EFE/REX)

Belarus runner Volha Mazuronak, who came fifth, declaring: "The humidity kills you. There is nothing to breathe. I thought I wouldn't finish," she said.

"It's disrespect towards the athletes. A bunch of high-ranked officials gathered and decided that it would take the championships here but they are sitting in the cool and they are probably sleeping right now."

Canadian athlete Lyndsay Tessier, who came ninth, said: "You see somebody down on the course and it's just, extremely grounding and scary, that could be you in the next kilometre, the next 500 metres.

"I'm just really grateful to have finished standing up.”

(Image: Getty Images for IAAF)

Her comments came after Ugandan athlete Linet Chebet had been taken away in an ambulance after being unable to finish, while Italy's Sara Dossena was among a number who needed the aid of a wheelchair.

Ethiopia's marathon coach Haji Adillo Roba saw all three of his hopefuls stop, including Tokyo Marathon winner Ruti Aga. Roba declared: "We never would have run a marathon in these conditions in our own country.”

(Image: Getty Images for IAAF)

Britain’s Charlotte Purdue, the third fastest British female marathon runner in history, withdrew after the start of the third loop

World champion decathlete Kevin Mayer subsequently criticised the decision to host the finals in Doha, labelling the World Championships “a disaster”.

A furious Mayer told L’Equipe: "We can all see it's a disaster, there is no-one in the stands, and the heat has not been adapted at all.

"There have already been nearly 30 withdrawals in the women's marathon. It's sad.

"We have to leave reason aside and more concentrate on the passion, because if not I would have boycotted these Championships.

"We haven't really prioritised athletes when organising the Championships here. It makes it difficult."

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: PA)

The following night 18 of 46 racewalkers dropped out of the men's final, including defending champion and world record holder Yohann Diniz of France.

Temperatures only ever hit a low of 29.5C during the four-hour slog, won in a time almost two minutes slower than in London in 2017.

(Image: AFLO/Press Association Images)

“I was tired and exhausted straight away from my breathing," declared three-time European champ Diniz.

“I knew there would be extreme conditions, but for me it was too much. My body could not do it. I did not want to go that far.

"I think I made a big mistake, I should have stayed on something positive instead of coming here. I came here, I do not know why."

Portugal's Joao Vieira, who took victory, stated that he defied "hell" to claim victory.