Kenya suffers blow as Manangoi sustains injury

Kenya's Elijah Motonei Manangoi (L) and Algeria's Taoufik Makhloufi compete in the Men's 1500m Round 1 during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 16, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PEDRO UGARTE

Kenya has suffered a major blow as World Silver medalist Elijah Manangoi will not feature in the 1500m Olympic finals in Rio after sustaining a hamstring injury.

Manangoi, who is the World 1,500m silver medallist, finished second in the second Heat in 3:46.83, losing to defending champion Taoufik Makhloufi from Algeria in 3:46.82.

He qualified with ease but after the race said he was “not good.” He indicated that he was pushed and a replay revealed he had contact with Makhloufi in the final 200m.