Running coach Lexxus Tan has been arrested, The Straits Times understands, with at least two police reports made against the 46-year-old over monetary issues.

On Friday last week, the founder of popular club F1 Runners cancelled a trip to tomorrow's Gold Coast Marathon (GCM) in Australia, affecting some 80 runners who each paid $1,300 (covering airfare, accommodation and race registration) when they signed up with him last year.

Before the cancellation, Mr Tan posted an apology on his Facebook page on June 6 over his "serious financial distress", and said he took "full responsibility in my financial mismanagement".

The statement, which is no longer visible on his page, came after Ms Cindy Ong, a former member of F1 Runners, wrote in a now-viral blog post on June 4 claiming that Mr Tan owed her husband about $13,000 and had defaulted on repayments.

The police confirmed yesterday investigations are ongoing. Mr Tan could not be reached for comment.

Mr Derrick Teng, Ms Ong's husband, told ST: "The police officers asked me things like how much money he had borrowed from me, the outstanding amount and any evidence that I could provide. I have already passed them what I have... I am glad the police are doing something about it now."

Earlier this week, GCM's organisers had offered stranded participants the option to defer their registration until next year, and help in sourcing for flights and accommodation for those who chose to go ahead with the trip this year.

Gold Coast Events general manager Cameron Hart said: "Deferring entries to next year for those who can't be with us this weekend is a one-off, exclusive offer we have made for the F1 Runners as a reward for many years of loyalty to our event."

An affected runner, Mr Ang, who did not want to give his full name, said he and his wife have chosen to postpone their run to next year.

The 46-year-old manager of a medical device company said: "It was a very kind gesture on the part of the GCM organisers and I will definitely be there next year."