Kiplimo joins Cheptegei out of Olympics 5,000m race

Reigning world cross-country title holder Jacob Kiplimo has withdrawn from the Olympic men’s 5,000m, a day after defending champion Joshua Cheptegei revealed intent to stay away from the race in a blow for team Uganda at the 2024 Paris Games.

The withdrawal of the two athletes has been attributed to fatigue, following a victory in which the three-time world champion and world record holder, Cheptegei, won the men’s 10,000metres title with an Olympic Record of 26min 43.14sec while Kiplimo came 8th in 26min 46.39sec.

“We regret to inform the public that Cheptegei and Kiplimo…