Press Release - London Marathon - 10/2/20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

            Bekele out of the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon

Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia), the second fastest man in history over the 
marathon distance, has withdrawn from this Sunday's Virgin Money London 
Marathon with a calf injury.

Bekele, who was due to race for the first time since he clocked 2:01:41 to 
win the 2019 BMW Berlin Marathon in September 2019, said: "I am very 
disappointed that I cannot race on Sunday.

"It has been a tough preparation time with lockdown when I couldn't have my 
NN team around me. I was in good shape but then I picked up a niggle in my 
left calf after two fast training sessions too close together in the last 
weeks of preparation.

"I have been having treatment every day since then and I truly believed I 
would be ready but today it is worse and I now know I cannot race on it.

"This race was so important to me. My time in Berlin last year gave me 
great confidence and motivation and I was looking forward to show that 
again, I have worked so hard for it. I know many people around the world 
have been looking forward to this race and I am sorry to disappoint my 
fans, the organisers and my fellow competitors. I will take time to recover 
and become fit again and I hope to be back in London next year."

Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the Virgin Money London Marathon, said: 
"The world has been waiting to see this head to head between Kenenisa 
Bekele and Eliud Kipchoge but it will now not happen this Sunday. We know 
how disappointed he is and we wish him a speedy recovery.

"This was never likely to be just a two-man race as we had four of the top 
ten fastest marathon runners ever and six men in the field who have broken 
2:05, including Mosinet Geremew and Mule Wasihun, second and third last 
year, and 2018 runner-up Shura Kitata."

The women's race on Sunday features world record holder Brigid Kosgei, 
world champion Ruth Chepngetich and 2018 London champion Vivian Cheruiyot 
and the wheelchair fields are headed by the all-conquering Manuela Schar in 
the women's race with Marcel Hug and David Weir, lining up for his 21st 
London Marathon, in the men's race.

45,000 people across the UK and 109 countries have signed up to take part 
in the virtual 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon, running The 40th Race 
from home or anywhere in the world on the course of their choice between 
00:00 and 23.59:59 BST on Sunday 4 October.

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