A drafting penalty put paid to Tyler Butterfield's hopes of finishing in the top ten at the Hawaii Ironman at the weekend.

Bermuda's top male triathlete, who was nursing a injury to his right tibia, was penalised for drafting – following another bicycle too closely – midway through the bike ride.

The four-minute penalty saw the Bermudian, who had been among the front pack, lose contact with the race leaders including eventual winner Chris McCormack and defending champion Craig Alexander.

Butterfield finished Saturday's race in 28th position in a time of eight hours, 46 minutes and 16 seconds.

The 27-year-old came out of the water in 52 minutes and 17 seconds just a minute off the large group of lead contenders and started strongly on the bike before he, along with other athletes, were adjudged to have been drafting.

Butterfield said although drafting is not allowed in long-course events, for the professionals it is 'part of the game' to make sure they stay in the main group.

The trick, he added, was to be as close as possible to the bike in front to get the easiest ride without breaking the rules.

In the future, Butterfield said he would leave a distance of at least 12 metres between him and the rider in front to make sure there would be no question of drafting.

He rode a time of 4:50:25 for the bike, including his penalty.

Butterfield's injured tibia, the result of a stress reaction, prevented him from training properly for the triathlon which was reflected in his time of 2:59.19.

He will now take a short break with his family in Kona before moving on to Maui for the X-Terra World Championships in two weeks, before looking towards the Cozumel Ironman on November 28.

Butterfield, who has competed at the Olympics, Commonwealth and Pan-Am Games, won a bronze medal at the CAC Games in Puerto Rico in July.

He has enjoyed an outstanding triathlon season, finishing fifth at the Ironman Mooseman in New Hampshire, fifth at the Memorial Hermann Ironman on Galveston Island, Texas and third in the St. Croix Ironman.