Athletics: Kenyan runners angered by dumping

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Furious marathon stars Moses Tanui and Elijah Lagat have protested against their bizarre dumping from the Kenyan Olympic team - insulted by officials' claims that they were too complacent in their training.

Two-time Boston marathon winner Tanui, reigning Boston champion Lagat and Tokyo marathon winner Japheth Kosgei were selected for Sydney then mysteriously dropped and replaced by a new team.

"No one knows how I train, and it is pretentious and an insult to my integrity to claim that I have not trained up to required standards," Tanui said in Nairobi yesterday.

"The allegation represents a desperate attempt to settle a personal score and and in the process sacrifice our patriotism ... at the altar of personal vendetta and cheap propaganda."

Tanui and Lagat have demanded that the entire executive of Kenyan Athletics resign "to avoid the prospect of boycotts.

Nigeria will also be without one of their stars in Sydney - Atlanta long jump gold medallist Chioma Ajunwa will not defend her title after a knee injury forced her out of her country's trials.