Kiplimo skips Lausanne Diamond League meeting

Kiplimo had earlier confirmed participation in the 5000m race that would pit him against countryman Joshua Cheptegei.

However, in the released roster for 5000m event, Kiplimo has been confirmed to have withdrawn his participation in the race leaving Cheptegei as Uganda’s sole representative in the distance.

According to his personal coach Peter Chelangat, Kiplimo has been forced out of the race due to “personal issues.”

“He has some personal issues to handle at home which are not major but big enough to prevent him from taking part,” Chelangat told Monitor Sports.

Chelangat also dismissed allegations that the double Commonwealth Games champion ‘feared’ competition.

Kiplimo has the best time (12:41.73) this year, a record he holds with Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha.

He posted the historic time, also the fifth-fastest time ever recorded in a race with a photo finish as Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha took the first position separated by a hundredth of a second at the Oslo Diamond League earlier this month.

Kiplimo will now turn his focus to the Monaco Diamond League slated for July 21.