Team Kenya captain for the World Masters Athletics Championships a four times World 3000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi has been dropped from Kenya’s team.

The two times Olympic water and jump champion was dropped for failing to turn up in the Team Kenya training camp and his whereabouts being unknown for the World Masters Athletics Championships slated for September 6-16 in Malaga, Spain.

Consequently, Kemboi has been replaced by the 2010 Commonwealth Games champion Mark Muttai as the team captain.

Muttai will be deputized by the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games women’s 5000m gold medallist Isabella Ochichi.

However, Kemboi will be allowed to join the team if he foots all his own costs which include travel fare and accommodation and will not be entitled to any allowances.

The team includes 2002 and 2010 Commonwealth Games 5000m bronze medallist Innes Chenonge, national heptathlon record holder Caroline Kola

Former Africa shot put record holder and the current national holder Elizabeth Olaba, the 2008 Africa heptathlon silver medalist Florence Wasike are in the team.

Others are hurdler Georgina Mbinya wife to the 2011 All Africa Games 4x400m relay gold medallist Vincent Mumo and former national 100m record holder Tom Musinde.

This will be the second time Kenya will be featuring at global level of Masters are formerly known as veterans since the formation of Athletics Kenya Masters (AKM) which is headed by the legendary and two times Olympic champion Kipchoge Keino as its patron.

At the World Masters Athletics Championship in Australia in 2016, Kenya was the top placed African country in position 18 overall out of 180 nations that participated in the championship that took place on October 26 to November 6 in Perth, 2016 at the WA Athletics Stadium and Ern Clark Athletics Track.

Kenya which was participating for the first time at the World stage in Australia two years ago, amassed ten medals which included three gold, four silver and three bronze medals.

Gold medalists were, Team Kenya captain Francis Komu (21km) Paul Kibet Yego (10,000m, M40) and Joshua Kipchumba (10,000m,M45).

Silver medals were won by John Birgen (Half Marathon, M40), Stephen Kamande (Half Marathon, M60), John Sang (Half Marathon, M45) and Stephen Kihara (M50).

Bronze winners were Joshua Pondo (Shot put, M55), Philip Metto (Half Marathon, M40) and Joseph Some Koskei (10,000m, M60) brought home bronze.

Masters Athletics Championship is designed for retired athletes from the age of 35 onwards.

Team Kenya to Spain

William Bett – (5,000m and Half marathon), Peter Bii –(5,000m, 8km cross country and 10km road) race, Joshua Bondo –(Shot Put, Discuss), Innes Chenonge –(5,000m, 10km road race), Nelly Jeptanui –(800m, 1,500m), Stephen Kamande –(5,000m, half marathon), Ezekiel Kemboi –(1,500m, 3,000m steeplechase), Rebecca Kerubo –(shot Put, Discuss and hammer throw), Isaac Kiberenge –(800m, 1,500m), Francis Kimeli –(5,000m, half marathon, Robert Kimutai -5,000m, 3,000m steeplechase, 8km cross country), Joshua Kipchumba –(5,000m, 10km road race), Dennis Kirui –(800m and 1,500m), Eliud Kirui –(5,000m, 3,000m steeplechase), Joyce Kirui –(5,000m, 8km cross country, 10km road race), Carolyne Kola –(long jump, tripple jump), Francis Komu –(5,000m, half marathon), David Langat –(5,000m, 8km cross country, 10km road race), Mark Mutai –(400m, 200m), Tom Musinde –(100m, 200m), Elizabeth Muthuka –(400m), Samuel Ndereba –(5,000m, 10km road race), Susan Nyakeriga –(1,500m, 2,000m steeplechase), Isabella Ochichi –(5,000m, 10km road race), Elizabeth Olaba –(Shot Put, hammer, discuss), Stephen Oyaro –(5,000m, half marathon), Silas Sang –(5,000m, half marathon), Khadijah Shungi –(5,000m walk, 10km walk), Erick Sikuku –(5,000m walk, 10km walk), Irene Wamuyu –(200m, 400m), Florence Wasike –(200m, 400m), Paul Yego –(5,000m, 8km cross country, 10km road race).