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Rio Olympic 3,000-metre steeplechase gold medallist Conseslus Kipruto has contracted Covid-19 and is therefore unable to compete in the Diamond League Monaco meet at the Stade Louis II next Friday, Aug. 14.
He is a 16-time Diamond League champion in the event and two-time World Athletics Championships gold medallist and two-time silver medallist.
Kipruto was planning to begin his racing season with a sub-eight-minute time, however, the news was announced Saturday, the day after completing his final speed session on the track.
Kipruto is the second high-profile athlete to contract the virus. On Aug 1. Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Wayde Van Niekerk, in the 400m, tested positive. Apparently, the so-called positive test may have had a false reading.
Kipruto owns the 80th fastest 3,000m steeplechase performance all-time with his 2016 Birmingham Diamond League race of 8:00.12. The world record is held by Saif Saeed Shaheen (formerly Stephen Cherono), which he set at the Brussels Diamond League meet in 2004 at 7:53.63. Shaheen is a former Kenyan who competed for Qatar.
