The Uganda Athletics Federation has dropped gold medal prospect Moses Kipsiro from the team that will take part in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia in April.
Middle and long distance star Kipsiro will not have the chance to win a fourth Commonwealth gold medal as the UAF says he refuses to run in the 10,000m event, and insists on taking part in the marathon instead.
Kipsiro won the 10,000m and 5,000m at the 2010 Games in Delhi, and again won gold in the 10,000m in Glasgow in 2014. He would have been in line to defend his 10km title for a second time.
Dominic Otuchet, the UAF president, told KweséESPN on Sunday that although Kipsiro had been competing in marathons of late, other runners had recorded superior times in the past year.
"We decided that since we already had athletes with better times than Kipsiro in Marathon, we had to drop him," Otuchet said.
"Since Kipsiro gave us a condition to be on the marathon team and not to defend his 10,000m gold medal, we decided to drop him and include Thomas Ayeko instead."
Additionally, 2012 London Olympic Games marathon gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich will miss the Games as he has opted to run at the 2018 Hamburg Marathon.
Uganda's Athletics team:
Athletics: Scovia Ayikoru, Shida Leni, Emily Nanziri, Halimah Nakaayi, Winnie Nanyondo, Docus Ajok, Juliet Chekwel, Mercyline Chelengat, Stellah Chesang, Josephine Lalam, Pius Adome, Alli Ngaimoko, Leonard Opiny, Ronald Musagala, Albert Chemutai, Phillip Kipyeko, Joshua Cheptegei, Thomas Ayeko, Timothy Toroitich, Jacob Kiplimo, Alex Chesakit, Robert Chemonges, Solomon Mutai Munyo