Kenya rule out Cross Country boycott

Kenyan athletics officials on Monday played down threats of a boycott of next month's World cross country championships by extending an invitation to all the athletes to compete in the national trials in Nairobi on Saturday.

Some of the athletes, including former world junior champions Augustine Choge and Pauline Korikwang and silver medallists Issac Songok and Mercy Kosgei, were missing from the list of entries for the championships which also serves as the Kenyan leg of the IAAF cross-country permit series.

Athletics Kenya (AK) chairman Isaiah Kiplagat, however, said the athletes had been granted wildcard entries to run and compete for places in the team for the World cross country championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 30.

He said the athletes were assured of their security following reports that some of them might be arrested for allegedly helping to fuel the deadly post-election violence.

"I know there are people advocating or telling the athletes not to participate in the trials," said Kiplagat.

"The threat to arrest them is just a rumour. I have spoken to all the athletes and they are happy to compete," he added.

Kiplagat said they would ensure that the athletes were given protection to train in a safe place for the world championships.

Kenya will defend the overall title they reclaimed in the Kenyan town of Mombasa last year.