Asbel Kiprop lines up in Monaco Diamond League
Kenyan's Asbel Kiprop celebrates after winning in the 1500m men's race during the Diamond League athletics competition at the Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, on May 6, 2016. PHOTO | AFP PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Kiprop, who boasts a personal best time of 3 minutes and 26.69 seconds from the same venue last year, said he will not attempt breaking the World Record as he is not adequately prepared.
- Kiprop took a break from training following the arrest of his manager Federico Rosa.
- The athlete has undergone several doping tests in the last few days.
Three-time World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop will not attempt the World Record as anticipated on Friday at the Monaco leg of the Diamond League Series.
Kiprop, who boasts a personal best time of 3 minutes and 26.69 seconds from the same venue last year, said he will not attempt breaking the World Record as he is not adequately prepared. Kiprop took a break from training following the arrest of his manager Federico Rosa.
Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj holds the world record time of 3:26.00 set on July 14, 1998 in Rome. Kiprop came close to lowering the mark but missed it by 0.69 seconds, running the third fastest time ever over the distance.
NOT CHASING WORLD RECORD
“Contrary to people’s expectations, I’m not going for a World Record in Monaco, however, we should expect fast times,” said Kiprop. “I haven’t had a good week in training but I will run as good as I can under the circumstances.”
On Thursday, the athlete took to social media to express his frustration. “This is the time when being strong is the only option after three days without training, with Olympics and Monaco beckoning,” he posted on his Facebook account.
The athlete has undergone several doping tests in the last few days.
“At this rate they will finish my blood,” Kiprop joked on his Facebook status. “It was done before the (national Olympic) trials then right a day after the trials then last Tuesday then Wednesday and again on Thursday in Monaco. I guess by the time I land in Rio, I will be needing blood drip,” he added.
Kiprop glided to his fifth Bislett Dream Mile victory in Olso in a world-leading time of 3:51.48 after previous victories in the Bowerman Mile at the Prefontaine Classic, followed by victory in 1,500m in Doha and Birmingham.
Once again Kiprop will face compatriots World 1,500m silver medallist Elijah Manangoi and World junior 1,500m record holder Ronald Kwemoi. They finished in that order at the Olympic trials to all qualify.
The 2012 Olympic 1,500m champion Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria, who was third in Oslo after Kiprop and Manangoi, is out to stop the Kenyans. Kiprop extended his first place in the Diamond Race with 30 points to Rome’s winner Manangoi on 22.
The women’s race has some of the finest collection this season what with the Kenya Olympic trials 800m winner Margaret Nyairera, who is also the reigning World Junior 800m champion, coming up against compatriot 2013 World champion Eunice Sum, 2009 World champion Caster Semenya and Burundian prodigy Francine Niyonsaba.
No Kenya is yet to win at this year’s Diamond League while Semenya has bagged three consecutive races in Doha, Rabat and Rome with Niyonsaba reigning at Birmingham.
