A teenage athlete dropped dead during a bizarre long-distance race where runners had to guzzle down drinks made from fermented horse milk.

The race – the ‘Kumiss Mile’ in Otnurok, in remote southern Russia – is four 1,000-foot-long laps with participants downing beakers of the concoction before each section.

But 19-year-old Viktoria Konstantinova collapsed during the race on 12th August shortly after downing one of the drinks, said to be a local health cure.

Her horrified mother – named only as Elvira – was also on the run and found Viktoria collapsed in the road when she ran back along the course to find her.

Paramedics tried to revive her, but could only declare her dead, according to local media.

An autopsy is set to reveal whether Viktoria suffered a massive allergic reaction to the drink.

Her mother told local media: “She never drank koumiss with me, maybe she had a reaction.

“Either it’s the koumiss or the inexperience of the medical staff.

“Even though rescuers and paramedics did everything they could, the ambulance took a long time to arrive.

“There were other people feeling unwell after the kumis.

“Another ambulance that didn’t make it to us left with sirens on, hopefully, they saved someone.”

Race organisers Malidak have publicly expressed their condolences to Viktoria’s family but refuse to discuss how she died.

They said in a statement: “We mourn and share the grief with everyone who knew Viktoria.

“We express our deepest condolences to the family. Words cannot express all the bitterness of this loss.”

Keen athlete Viktoria was studying to become a running coach.