Kenya order for athletes to train

Kenya expects more from its runners after the intensive training

Kenya's athletics body has ordered runners to report to a training camp ahead of August's Olympics Games or be barred from competing.

Athletics Kenya (AK) says the tough action is part of its training strategy for the Beijing games.

Kenya has struggled to regain its former athletics glory, losing the mantle to neighbouring Ethiopia.

AK chairman Isaiah Kiplagat also warned agents and managers against stopping athletes from attending the camp.

Optimistic

"Every athlete selected must report to camp on 20 May and if they are not there by the deadline then they will be left out of the Olympic trials," he said.

If an agent, coach or manager stops an athlete from going to camp, then AK shall ban him from representing Kenyan athletes with immediate effect AK chairman Isaiah Kiplagat

"We are training to win," he added.

The BBC's John Nene in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, says Ethiopian runners have had an edge over Kenyan athletes in the 5,000m and 10,000m races.

Since Naftali Temo won the 10,000m gold for Kenya in the 1968 Mexico Olympics, the country has struggled to regain its supremacy in long-distance races, he says.

Around 120 middle and long-distance runners are expected to report to the month-long training camp in the western town of Eldoret.

"If an agent, coach or manager stops an athlete from going to camp, then AK shall ban him from representing Kenyan athletes with immediate effect," he said.

AK Secretary-General David Okeyo said the team would undergo intensive training.

"We are optimistic that the team will do very well," he said.

The athletics body is receiving nearly $33,000 from the National Olympics Committee of Kenya for the camp.