Cheptegei and Kiplimo withdraw as Uganda sends 21 athletes to Tokyo World Championships

Uganda’s athletics preparations for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo have taken an unexpected twist after star runners Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo withdrew from the event scheduled for September 13–21.

The Uganda Athletics Federation confirmed the development through its official channels, citing personal reasons for the withdrawals of the two distance running icons. Their absence is a major blow to Uganda’s medal prospects, given their track record on the global stage.

Despite the setback, Uganda will still be strongly represented with a 21-member squad comprising 11 women and 10 men. The athletes will feature across multiple disciplines, carrying the nation’s hopes in one of the biggest athletics gatherings in the world.

The Tokyo championships are expected to attract over 2,000 athletes from nearly 200 countries, underlining its status as a premier global sporting event.

This year’s edition will mark the second time Tokyo has hosted the World Championships, the first being in 1991. The inaugural competition was held in Helsinki, Finland, setting the stage for what has since grown into a showcase of the world’s best athletics talent