KAMPALA, June 13-Olympic and world champion Stephen Kiprotich will skip this year’s Commonwealth Games, a senior athletics official said here on Thursday.
Faustino Kiwa, a member of the Uganda Athletics Federation said Kiprotich will miss out because he is fatigued after attending several marathons.
Kiwa was releasing the list of the team that will represent Uganda at the games scheduled in Scotland.
“We tried to convince him to represent the country at this event, but he said he was fatigued,” Kiwa said.
Kiprotich revealed in February that he would most likely skip the Commonwealth Games because of fatigue. He reasoned at that time that he needed to give chance to upcoming young athletes to also have a chance to have exposure.
Moses Kipsiro who has not been active on the local scene this season was however given an opportunity by the technical committee to travel and defend his men’s 5,000m and 10,000m double-gold medal which he won in New Delhi, India in 2010.
Kiwa said they have confidence in the 18-man team that has been picked for the Games. “We are sure this team will bring us some medals because they are the best at this moment,” said Kiwa.
Team: Mutai Solomon, Kiplimo Abraham, Kiplimo Philip, Kibet Moses, Kipsiro Moses, Toroitich Timothy, Araptany Jacob, Musagala Ronald, Opio Denis, Tugumisirize Emmanuel, Ngaimoko Ali, Okiror Anthony, Chemutai Vanis, Chebet Linet Toroitich, Nanyondo Winny, Nanziri Emily, Lenia Shida, Nakaayi Halima.
