© Copyright – 2021 – Athletics Illustrated
Rhonex Kipruto has been named as the substitute for the injured Geoffrey Kamworor on Team Kenya in the 10,000m event.
Interestingly Kipruto, who owns a best of 26:50.16 from 2019, when he was just 20-years-of-age, dropped out of the Kenyan trials with just five laps to go. Who knows how his fitness has changed since the trials, but Athletics Kenya hurriedly filed the paperwork with World Athletics who have approved the substitution.
We are pleased to announce Rhonex Kipruto is the latest inclusion to our athletics team for Tokyo Olympics. He has replaced Geoffrey Kamworor in the men's 10,000m team after the latter sustained an injury while training that unfortunately ruled him out of the Olympics. pic.twitter.com/KbyPoFApKK
— Athletics Kenya (@athletics_kenya) July 25, 2021
Kamworor owns a best of 26:52.65 from 2015, however, his half-marathon – a former world record – at 58:01 is a performance above both his own 10,000m and Kipruto’s. He was a medal favourite going in but injured his ankle in training.
Barnaba Korir, Athletics Kenya’s Team Manager also had to clear the decision through the Athletics Integrity Unit.
“The decision was arrived at after AK sought clearance from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on his anti-doping testing status, which I am pleased to say he has been given the green light,” Korir wrote on social media.
