Elijah Manangoi plotting Team Kenya comeback after three-year hiatus

ATHLETICS Elijah Manangoi plotting Team Kenya comeback after three-year hiatus

Abigael Wafula 07:47 - 22.02.2023

He will be taking part in the weekend's Athletics Kenya second meet at the Nyayo National Stadium

Former world 1500m champion Elijah Manangoi is looking to make Team Kenya resurgence after three years in the cold.

Manangoi was suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on July 2020 after missing out on three consecutive out-of-competition tests in 2019.

Since then, Manangoi has been in and out of action but has promised a thrilling 2023 season. His first competition after the ban was the 2022 Kenya Police cross-country championship that took place at Ngong on January 7.

He then went ahead to compete at the national trials for the World Cross-country championships which were held back in December 2022 but could not make the cut to the global show.

On the international scene, he made his last appearance for Team Kenya in the 2019 World Cross-country championships in Denmark.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games 1500m champion said he will be taking part in this weekend’s Athletics Kenya meet at the Nyayo National Stadium after what he a 'tough situation' of no training and mingling with fellow athletes.

“I didn’t take any drug but I was out because of whereabout failures and I accepted it. Things are now over and I am back. I am happy,” he told NTV.

Manangoi added that he is planning to shift from the 1500m specialty to 5000m in the coming years. He also advised fellow athletes to be themselves and file their own whereabouts and not let anyone control how they work.

Meanwhile, his coach Lawrence Kipruto is bubbling with excitement and has so much in store for Manangoi going forward.

“Our main focus at the moment is the indoor games in Europe. We are planning for the Diamond League meetings and the World Championships. Of course we shall not leave out the AK meets,” Kipruto said.

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