Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto tests positive for Covid-19
Athletics
By
Waweru Titus
| Aug 08, 2020
Olympic and world 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto has tested positive for Covid-19.
Kipruto, however, confirmed he did not exhibit any coronavirus symptoms and was in great shape.
His positive test comes before the upcoming Monaco Diamond League scheduled to take place on August 14.
“Our World is going through a challenging period and we all have to take our responsibilities.
“Unfortunately my Covid-19 test, as part of the Monaco-protocol, came back positive and therefore I can’t be part of the Monaco Diamond League on August 14th,” Kipruto posted on his official Instagram account on Saturday.
The Kenyan middle-distance runner added: “I don’t have any symptoms and I was actually in great shape. I was planning to go for the WR: it has stayed too long outside Kenya. As the World & Olympic Champion, I feel strongly its something I should go for as well.
“Wish to thank Monaco for all the work they have done and I wish them and my colleagues a wonderful competition. Athletics is back and I will be back as well.”
Kipruto had last month confirmed he would make his season debut at the Monaco Diamond League.
The 25-year-old will now miss out on the showdown but his counterparts will run in a competitive race for the first time in almost nine months as sports events return after lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Kipruto won gold medals at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, 2017 and 2019 World Championships. He also won the World Youth and in 2012 the World Junior titles.
His win in Doha World championships was his fourth successive medal - after silvers in 2013 and 2015 - and it came at the end of an injury-ravaged season which saw him fail to win a single race at the Diamond League.