Thursday, January 26, 2012

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele has suspension lifted


Ethiopian long-distance athlete Kenenisa Bekele has had his ban on competing lifted by his governing body.

The Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion was banned from representing Ethiopia along with 34 other athletes for not attending a mandatory training camp.

But the Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) said: "They [the athletes] have pledged to respect the body's directives from now on."

Bekele is a major rival to Britain's world 5,000m champion Mo Farah.

The EAF summoned 200 athletes to a training camp in November in preparation for the World Indoor Championships in March.

However, Bekele and the other athletes, including Olympic women's 5,000m and 10,000m gold medallist Tirunesh Dibaba, ignored the call-up.

The Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) added: "They [the athletes] apologised and explained they missed the gathering due to injury or engagements elsewhere in the world."

Ethiopia had a poor showing at the World Championships in 2011 where they finished ninth in the medal table with just one gold - Ibrahim Jeilan in the 10,000m.

Bekele, who was making his comeback in Daegu after an 18-month injury lay-off, dropped out of that race after 10 laps.

Farah won silver in that event behind Jeilan, before winning the 5,000m seven days later, with US athlete Bernard Lagat in second and Ethiopian Dejen Gebremeskel in third.

Bekele declared himself fully recovered prior to the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country this month, but finished well down the field.

Technical director Dube Jilo said: "We have to distinguish who is in good shape. There is a lack of commitment.

"Our preparations haven't been up to standard so far."




Page last updated at 16:17 GMT, Tuesday, 24 January 2012
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/16652042.stm
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