NEW DELHI, May 13: An Indian state government has warned the coach of a four-year-old long-distance runner the he could face arrest if he defies a ban on making the child run more marathons.

The slum boy, touted as the world's youngest long-distance runner, hit international headlines after he ran 65 kilometers (40.3 miles) in seven hours this month, collapsing just before the finish line.

Initially hailed by the media as India's “Forrest Gump,” concern about his fate grew after a medical report said Budhia Singh was “undernourished, anaemic and under cardiological stress” amid claims the coach was exploiting the boy.

Human rights activists attacked the Orissa state government, saying it was allowing the boy's life to be endangered and on Monday authorities slapped a ban on the boy running marathons.

“If the boy's coach does not pay any heed to this, he may be arrested,” said child development minister Pramilla Mallick in the eastern state of

Orissa, media reports quoted her Saturday as saying. Budhia had taken part in earlier races in India but this month's run was much longer than the official marathon distance of 42 kilometres (26 miles).

Doctors say the child is “under cardiological stress” and that if he continues running marathons, he could end up with renal failure.

The coach, Biranchi Das, said after the ban was imposed that the boy likes to run. But the state child welfare department said Budhia must train under a qualified athletics coach — Das is a judo instructor — and that his health should be monitored.—AFP