Ivuti out of Boston marathon, possibly Olympics

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

NAIROBI (AFP) — Chicago marathon champion Patrick Ivuti confirmed Friday he has pulled out of the Boston marathon because of a bout of malaria, dimming his hopes of participating in the Beijing Olympics.

Ivuti, a two-time world cross country silver medallist, was one of the favourites for Monday's race along with his two Kenyan training partners Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot and Lawrence Saina.

Kenyan officials are hoping to use Boston as a selection arena for the Olympics.

But the 29-year-old, who surprisingly beat two-time world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco in one of the closest finishes to the Chicago marathon last October, went down with malaria last week.

"I am extremely disappointed. After training for three months for this race I was very...