NAIROBI, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Olympic 3000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya faces a difficult race against time to be fit ahead of the Sept. 28-Oct. 6 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
The 24-year-old defending champion of the worlds suffered a foot fracture and will stay out of competition until September.
Kipruto's agent Michel Boeting said on Saturday that Kipruto has been advised by the doctors to rest and avoid exerting pressure on his foot for the time being.
"Last week Kipruto was forced to postpone the start of his season by canceling the Doha Diamond League due to pain in his foot. Today he has been diagnosed with early stages of stress-fracture in talus of left foot. He was advised to take rest," Boeting said.
The injury certainly ends any hopes that the Kenyan steeplechaser had of defending his Diamond League Trophy. The 14-leg premier track and field competition, which started in Doha, last week, will move to its second stop in Shanghai, China on May 18.
"A return to competition is expected for mid-August. Updates will be done if this situation changes," added Boeting.
