NAROBI, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda has fallen behind schedule and will not recover in time to compete in this weekend's Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon.
Speaking here on Monday during his stopover from a medical camp in Netherlands, Cheptegei said he regrets to announce his withdrawal from the race.
Though not confirming how long the knee injury will keep him out, Cheptegei said he has no immediate plan to compete in any other Diamond League meeting and will only focus on returning to fitness ahead of the Africa Athletics Championships.
"I had high hopes to continue with a perfect season. However, I am regretful that I won't be able to run the Prefontaine Classic n Eugene, USA and other Diamond League races this year because of my injured knee," said Cheptegei.
The Ugandan won gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games in April and opted to skip the opening round of the Diamond League meeting in Doha on May 4 so as to rest his nagging knee.
His management company decided to fly him to Netherlands for further medical assessments, but he returned home on Monday without any good news.
"The Injury is not healed. I love running in Eugene because it is a special Nike race. My success story started in Eugene in 2014 during the IAAF World Junior Championships. So I hold a lot great roots in it and Nike are my sponsors," added Cheptegei.
Cheptegei was due to run in the Mile distance but in his absence, Kenya's Elijah Manangoi and Timothy Cheruiyot will return to the Pre Classic's finale meeting for the first time since the Commonwealth Games 1,500m finals.
Also returning are the three fastest milers in Pre history, topped by two-time Bowerman Mile winner Ayanleh Souleiman -- whose meet record of 3:47.32 is the fastest ever on U.S. soil.
There are also Matthew Centrowitz, veteran Silas Kiplagat, Vincent Kibet, Bethwell Birgen (Kenya), Ethiopia's Samuel Tefera and Bahraini Sadik Mikhou.
