Eliud Kipchoge, the world record holder in the men's marathon, suffered his first defeat since 2013 as he failed to defend his London Marathon title on Sunday, as Ethiopian Shura Kitata won the race in 2:05.41. 

Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia was third, with Kipchoge, the hot favorite from Kenya, who in his last race a year ago became the only man to break the two-hour mark for the distance, finishing eighth. 

Four-time winner Kipchoge was expected to clinch the victory comfortably as his arch-rival Kenenisa Bekele announced his withdrawal from the event due to a calf injury on Friday. 

Kitata, who finished second in London in 2018, thanked his missing compatriot for his victory. "Kenenisa Bekele was helping me for this race and he advised me how to run," he said. "I trained for the same course, I am very happy to win."

The coronavirus-hit marathon, limited to elite runners and with no crowds, was the first Kipchoge had failed to win since finishing second in Berlin in 2013 – he had won all 11 others he raced in, including the 2016 Rio Olympics.   

"I'm really disappointed, I had a problem with my right ear after it blocked, and then I really cramped and had problems with my hip from about the last 15 kilometers," Kipchoge said. 

"It's really cold but I don't blame the conditions and I'm still there to come back again."

Earlier, Kenyan world record holder Brigid Kosgei was a comfortable winner of the women's race in 2:18.58 as American Sara Hall produced a great finish to snatch second from Ruth Chepngetich. 

(With input from agencies)