June 28, 2001 Reuters

NAIROBI, June 28 (Reuters) - Kenyan athletes selected for world championships in August have been barred from chasing world records on the lucrative grand prix circuit, officials said on Thursday.

Kenya Amateur Athletic Association (KAAA) secretary general David Okeyo has sent a circular to athletes' representatives limiting the number of races each can run.

They have all been instructed to return home by July 10 to join the Kenyan camp that will gather to prepare for the world championships in Edmonton, Canada, between August 3 and 12.

"We have released them to run on the grand prix circuit but mainly as part of training for the world championships. They must not chase world records and must return home by July 10," Okeyo told Reuters.

The circular was sent to five European agents representing Kenyan athletes, Kim McDonald, Jos Hermes, Volker Wagner, Gianni Demadona and Fredrico Rosa.

But even before the ink dried on this directive, reports from London on Thursday quoted Olympic 1,500m champion Noah Ngeny as saying he would run against Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj at the London Grand Prix on July 22.

Okeyo was, however, firm about the July 10 deadline.

"I am not aware of those reports. His agent (Kim McDonald) has our directive and he must obey it to the letter," Okeyo said.

"Paul Tergat's defeat by Haile Gebrselassie in the Olympic 10,000 metre final last year was attributed to his pursuit of a world record on the Grand Prix circuit shortly before the Olympics," Okeyo said.

"And we are not going to allow our athletes to make this mistake again, given the magnitude of the championships in Canada," he added.

With the exception of four marathon runners training at the high altitude Kaptagat camp in Eldoret -- Josephat Kiprono, Samson Kandie, Simon Biwot and Ruth Kutol -- all the selected athletes have left the country for the grand prix circuit.

A fifth marathon runner, Florence Barsosio, is training in St Moritz, Switzerland. They are instructed to run no more than two races each.

BURNOUT

Tergat and former 10,000 metres champion Moses Tanui warned athletes not to burn themselves out on the circuit if they hoped to regain the country's lost glory in the middle and distance races in Edmonton.

Olympic 3,000 metre steeplechase champion Reuben Kosgey has been barred from running steeplechases on the Grand Prix circuit, Okeyo said. He is supposed to run two 1,500 metre races only.

Okeyo said the coaches noticed he was slow during the trials, which made him finish second to world record holder Bernard Barmasai.

"He has been sent to the circuit to develop his speed. Barmasai will run one 1,500m and one steeplechase race. These are the instructions sent to their agents," Okeyo said.

Raymond Yator, a third member of the steeplechase team, will run one steeplechase and one 1,500 metre race. The 1,500 trio -- Noah Ngeny (Olympic champion), William Chirchir and Laban Rotich -- will run only two 1,500 races to sharpen speed and tactics.

Richard Limo, Sammy Kipketer and John Kibowen (5,000 metre) will run one 1,500 race only.

Charles Kamathi, John Korir and Paul Kosgei (10,000) will run two 5,000m races only. Tegla Loroupe (10,000) will run one 5,000m and one 3,000m race.

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