KAMPALA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) on Monday named the final squad that will represent the country at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London.
Namayo Mawerere, the UAF publicity secretary told Xinhua that they have selected the best 20 athletes that the country has to offer.
Star athletes Stephen Kiprotich and Moses Kipsiro, according to UAF, opted out of the team citing lack of good form to compete in the high profile championship.
"As a Federation, we applaud their decision and maturity...The World Championship is the biggest athletics event that calls for serious and adequate preparations. They are spot on as role models for the rest of the Ugandan runners to emulate," Mawerere said.
Kiprotich was a gold medalist at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2013 World Championships, while Kipsiro is a three-time commonwealth gold medalist.
The Championship, which will bring together the top athletes in the world, will take place Aug. 4-13 in London.
The marathon team will now look at ohter options including Solomon Mutai, who finished seventh at the Rio Olympics and won bronze at the 2015 World Championship in China, together with Robert Chemonges who won the Dusseldorf Marathon in Germany in May, and Alex Chesakit.
The 16th edition of the 2017 IAAF World Championships will take place at the Olympic Stadium. The championship is also expected to be Usain Bolt and distance runner Mo Farah's last races.
