Ethiopian marathon runner Kenenisa Bekele has withdrew from the 40th London Marathon after developing an injury.
Bekele was expected to appear in the race to challenge Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge.
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The three-time Olympic gold medallist and world 10,000m record holder, announced the sad news on Friday, October 2.
Bekele said he could not participate in the race as the injury was tough.
“I have been having treatment every day since then and I truly believed I would be ready but today it is worse and I now know I cannot race on it. This race was so important to me,” Bekele said in a statement.
Events manager Hugh Brasher reportedly tried to convince Bekele to participate in the race but all was in vain.
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“We know how disappointed Kenenisa is and we wish him a speedy recovery,” he said. “But this was never likely to be just a two-man race as we had four of the top-10 fastest marathon runners – and six men in the field who have broken 2:05, including Mosinet Geremew and Mule Wasihun, second and third last year, and the 2018 runner-up, Shura Kitata.” He said.
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