John Ngugi, the former Olympic 5,000 metres champion, insisted in Nairobi yesterday that while he may be coming to Edinburgh this weekend he would not, contrary to the assurances of his British agent, be making it his racing comeback.
Ngugi, who has been out of action for 27 months because of a ban imposed for refusing to take a random drug test, said he would not run in a 10- kilometre event around the Scottish capital on Sunday.
Ngugi said that December would be the time of his comeback, when he hoped to make Kenya's team for the World Cross-Country Championships where he would be seeking a record sixth title.
"I am not ready now, I have already explained this," Ngugi said. "The aim is December, then the World Cross-Country championships, then prospects for an Atlanta gold."
He said he was troubled by a knee injury and understood he would be travelling to Edinburgh only to sign autographs. "I am not even sure that I will go yet," he said. Meanwhile, in London, his agent, John Bicourt, was still insisting that the Kenyan would compete.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments