ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — Kenenisa Bekele says his exclusion from Ethiopia's marathon team for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro is "unjust" and claims that his national federation's selection criteria are "biased."
Bekele, a three-time Olympic champion and the world-record holder in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, tells The Associated Press that athletes were informed too late that they must run in at least two major marathons in the last year to be eligible for Ethiopia's team.
Bekele returned from a yearlong injury break to finish third at the London Marathon in April, his only marathon in the last year, although he won the Great Manchester Run 10 kilometer race last month.