Runners take the start of the Berlin Marathon on Sept 29, 2019 in Berlin, with landmark Brandenburg Gate in the background. (JOHN MACDOUGALL / AFP)

BERLIN - The Berlin Marathon will not be staged on Sept 27 due to a government ban on mass gatherings because of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers announced Tuesday, without giving any new dates.

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"We have learned that all events involving more than 5,000 people will be banned until October 24," race officials said in a statement.

"That applies to lots of events, including the Berlin Marathon, which will not be able to take place on September 26-27 as planned," they added.

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Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele won the race for the second time in 2019, missing out on the world record by just two seconds.