A 4-year-old from the slums of eastern India dubbed "marathon boy" after he ran for seven hours in sapping summer heat may be forced to hang up his training shoes by officials worried his health is at risk.

"We are exploring possibilities to refrain the boy from long-distance running," Pramila Mallick, the minister for women and child welfare in the Indian state of Orissa, said yesterday.

Last week Budhia Singh entered into the Limca Book of Records, a local version of the Guinness publication, after running 65 kilometres uninterrupted in seven hours and two minutes.

Officials poured praise on the boy and promoted him as a local celebrity as newspapers and television stations raced to cover his every step.

But leading human rights organizations harshly criticised both the local government and Budhia's coach for endangering the boy's health for personal reward.

"It is an act done so rashly or negligently to endanger human life or the personal safety of others as defined under section 336 of the Indian Penal Code," Suhas Chakma, the director of the Asian Centre for Human Rights, said in a statement.

After the case was reported to the National Human Rights Commission, the Orissa state government appointed a team of doctors to conduct medical tests on Budhia.

They reported that his cardiological system was under stress, that he was undernourished and suffering from anaemia.

The doctors said if Budhia continued to run long distances he could suffer kidney failure.

Born in a slum in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, Budhia was sold by his mother for just 800 rupees (US$19) after his father died. Biranchi Das, a local judo teacher, adopted Budhia and later discovered his unusual stamina.

Budhia was discovered two years ago by Biranchi Das, a sports coach, who has been accused of exploiting the boy's athletic talent by forcing him to run long distances for publicity.

(China Daily 05/10/2006 page6)