Kenenisa Bekele Denied Olympic Reconsideration
Kenenisa Bekele will not be reconsidered for Ethiopia's Olympic marathon team, Ethiopian Athletics Federation president Alebachew Nigusse confirmed.
The Ethiopian Athletics Federation decided not to change their selection criteria to include Bekele, despite his protests over the qualification process.
Bekele was left off the four-man marathon team for the Rio Games, sparking controversy.
He claimed the qualification criteria were unfair and that athletes were not given advance warning of what they needed to do to make the team.
Bekele, along with fellow Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie and over 100 other athletes, protested the federation's qualifying process on Tuesday.
Alebachew Nigusse defended the procedure at a news conference on Wednesday.
Bekele's exclusion from the team has been a major talking point in the athletics community.
The decision not to reconsider Bekele's inclusion in the Olympic team is likely to have significant implications for his career.
Bekele has been a dominant force in distance running, holding world records in the 5000m and 10,000m.
His absence from the Olympic team will be felt, and the controversy surrounding the selection criteria is likely to continue.
The Ethiopian Athletics Federation's decision has been met with criticism from many in the athletics community.
Bekele's fans will be disappointed by the news, and the athlete himself will likely be considering his options.
The Rio Games will take place without one of the sport's biggest stars.
The Ethiopian Athletics Federation's selection criteria have been under scrutiny since Bekele's exclusion from the team was announced.
Alebachew Nigusse's comments have done little to alleviate the concerns of Bekele and his supporters.
The situation is a complex one, with many factors at play.
Bekele's world records in the 5000m and 10,000m make him a formidable athlete.
His exclusion from the Olympic team is a significant blow to his career.
The controversy surrounding the selection criteria is likely to rumble on.
As of the Rio Games, Bekele's Olympic aspirations have been dashed.