Kenyan athletes barred from 2020 Diamond League means the country’s stars will be hit hard by the effects of the lock out from the EU. Kenya did not make the list due the effects of the coronavirus.
The borders have been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic that has forced the EU to close its borders.
Several Diamond League races are lined up but Kenyan athletes are unlikely to feature in these races thanks to the EU caveat.
This is entirely based on the fact that Kenyan has been unable to contain the virus and hence is on the EU ‘black list’.
The complete list of countries allowed into EU, starting July 1
Monaco, a city in the south east of France will kick off the resumption of Diamond League even as Kenyan athletes are likely to miss the Stockholm meet on August 23 in Sweden if the EU doesn’t clear Kenya.
Other races are set to be staged in Brussels, Belgium on September 4 since the Lausanne meet on September 2nd will be treated as an exhibition event.
The weight of Kenyan athletes barred from 2020 Diamond League means that Kenya’s world 1,500 metres champion Timothy Cheruiyot will not be able to defend his title alongside former champion Elijah Manang’oi, among others, during the Monaco leg primed for August 14.
Other countries that neighbour Kenyan have been given the go ahead to enter the Schengen states area by the EU like Ethiopia, Uganda and Rwanda.
Source : Diamond League