Kenyan steeplechase runners have pulled out of Tuesday's Monaco IAAF World Athletics Tour meeting to allow for adequate preparation ahead of Beijing Olympic Games in August.
World 3,000 meters steeplechase champion Brimin Kipruto and Olympic bronze medalist Paul KipsieleKoech have joined Africa's 800 meters champion Abubaker Kaki of Sudan who has pulled out of the global meet.
The withdrawal came after head coach Julius Kirwa late Sunday ruled out any athlete in the team traveling abroad to compete in any meetings ahead of the Beijing Olympics, which begin on August 8. The meeting has, however, attracted other top class athletes.
Kipsiele has been called up to the camp as a reserve athlete. Okeyo said the final squad to represent the country would be decided after a technical meeting.
"There will be no one moving out of camp. We are all now focused on the Olympics. To avoid burnout and injury, we are holding on to our athletes," Kirwa said according to a local newspaper, Daily Nation, on Monday.
Kipsiele, who had traveled to Kericho to be with World Athletics Final 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters champion Edwin Soi, who was bereaved, is expected back in camp Monday. Kipruto has been in camp throughout.
"I will not be traveling to Monaco, and I will instead concentrate on the local training. I have had enough competition abroad and I can not get the clearance from my coaches to go out," said Kipsiele.
Organizers of the Monaco meeting have said that Kaki has pulled out as he wants to rest up prior to the Olympics.
However, Asafa Powell is slated to race the 100 meters along with a slew of talents that includes two reigning global silver medalists, Derrick Atkins and Francis Obikwelu.
In the 110 meters hurdles, battle will be rejoined between the two fastest men of the year Cuba's Dayron Robles and American David Oliver.
Russia's Yuriy Borzakovskiy, the Olympic champion of 800 meters, and world 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters gold medalist Bernard Lagat (USA) will be in Monaco assuring a high quality middle distance running.
Meanwhile, the Beijing-bound team will receive national flag from President Mwai Kibaki in Nairobi later Monday.
(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2008)