The Electronic Telegraph
Friday 20 July 2001
Tom Knight
NOAH NGENY, the Olympic 1500 metres champion, has been dropped from Kenya's
team for the World Championships over his insistence on competing in this
Sunday's Norwich Union British Grand Prix at Crystal Palace.
The Kenyan federation yesterday decided to punish Ngeny for running in the
Emsley Carr Mile instead of returning for a national team training camp
ahead of the world event, which starts in Edmonton, Canada, on Aug 3.
The Draconian measure was also extended to Tegla Loroupe, the world's
fastest marathon runner, who was dropped from the 10,000m.
Ngeny had defied an ultimatum sent to all Kenyans competing on the European
circuit that they should return before the team left for Canada.
David Okeyo, the secretary general of the Kenya Amateur Athletic
Association, said: "Our patience has been stretched to the limit and we have
to take these drastic measures to deter future misdemeanour. Ngeny defied
our directive and his form is wanting. We also suspect that Loroupe is too
tired to perform well in Edmonton. She has not been consistent anyway."
Ngeny has been replaced by Bernard Lagat, the 1500m bronze medallist in
Sydney, but Loroupe's spot will not be filled.
The axing was backed by Kip Keino, the 1968 Olympic champion who is chairman
of Kenya's National Olympic Committee. He said: "Athletes have a duty to
respect national assignments. They must respect the honour given to them by
the country to carry the flag.
"Ethiopians are nowhere in the Grand Prix circuit, because they attach great
importance to national duty. Why not Kenyans?"
As if to confirm Keino's point, it also emerged that Derartu Tulu, the
Olympic 10,000m champion, had withdrawn from Crystal Palace on the orders of
the Ethiopian federation.
The Kenyans' announcement came hours after Ngeny had attended a press
conference to promote Sunday's meeting. He claimed he had been given special
permission to run but, after learning of his axing last night, said: "I
participated in the Kenyan trials and earned my place in the team. A request
then came for my fellow athletes and myself to return to Kenya.
Unfortunately, I had entered into contractual arrangements to run in the
British Grand Prix and as a professional athlete and a man of my word I need
to fulfil my obligation."
The promoters of the meeting, meanwhile, have been accused of keeping many
top athletes from tonight's Golden League event in Monte Carlo. With El
Guerrouj, Maurice Greene and Marion Jones committed to London, tonight's
organisers believe their event has been undermined.
British interest lies with Colin Jackson in the 110m hurdles, while Kelly
Holmes faces Olympic champion Maria Mutola in the 800m.
Eamonn Condon
www.RunnersGoal.com
