体坛英语新闻：Kenya's Rudisha doubt for title defence in Moscow

NAIROBI, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha may fail to defend his World title in Moscow as he is struggling to get fit from a knee injury suffered in New York in June.

His coach Colm O'Connell told Xinhua on Wednesday from Iten, northwest Kenya that he still need a week to analyse the progress of his rehabilitation before he can confirm Rudisha's availability in Moscow for the World Championships, which start on Aug. 10.

"Rudisha is going on well with his rehabilitation. What I cannot confirm now is if at all he will be able to resume training in time for the World Championships," said Colm O' Connell.

The two are monitoring his progress keenly and the coach said he will communicate any news to Athletics Kenya in a weeks time to allow them have enough time to prepare for any eventuality.

"We will write to Athletics Kenya and IAAF about his injury progress in a weeks time," he said.

The certain thing is that Rudisha will not be parading in Nairobi on Saturday when Kenya trials for the World Championships will be held to select their final team.

However, because Rudisha is among the seven gold medallist Kenya had in Daegu in 2011, he is entitled to an automatic entry to the championships in Moscow, on condition that his national federation enters his name.

"The good thing is that Rudisha has got a wild card to Moscow. What I want is for you to pray for his quick recovery," said his coach.

Rudisha was injured in June while running New York's Central Park, which forced him to pull out of the Diamond league Meeting in Eugene, Oregon. He has not raced since.

"Rudisha was jogging inside Central Park when he realized something was the matter with his knee," his coach Colm O' Connell said.

"Two initial investigations were done, first in the USA and another in Germany, and we decided that he takes a rest. The injury might limit the speed with which Rudisha might run at the World Championships, if he ever recovers in time," he said.

These rules out a possible repeat of London performance where Rudisha raced to a new World Record of 1:40.91. He has also run a world lead time at the Doha Diamond league meeting in May.

Alongside Rudisha, Kenya won gold in Daegu through Edna Kiplagat (marathon), Ezekiel Kemboi (3,000m steeplechase), Asbel Kiprop (1,500m), Vivian Cheruiyot (10,000 and 5,000m) and Abel Kirui (marathon).

However, they are not the only ones that enjoy the wild card status from Kenya. IAAF has given winners of the 2012 Diamond league the nod to enjoy wild card status.

From Kenya they include Milcah Chemos (3,000m steeplechase), Paul Kipsiele Koech (3,000m steeplechase) and Silas Kiplagat (1, 500m).

Rudisha has been dominant in the two-lap race. However, Kenya is planning to move on with youngsters Job Kinyor 1:44.24, Olympian Anthony Chemut (1:44.69), Olympic 800m bronze medallist Timothy Kitum 1:45.16 and Jeremiah Mutai (1:43.90). Others are Edwin Meli (1:43.81) and former world champion Alfred Kirwa Yego ( 1:43.90).