by Larry Eder
In many ways, Ethiopia is still the Wild West in terms of sports. Various intrigues have come to mind when picking the Ethiopian Olympic athletics team. This is nothing new—and it is nothing new to an Olympic team. Recall how often, in the past, athletes were not included in relay squads in the US due to the afore-suggested athlete wearing the wrong shoe brand? Thankfully, those transgressions seem to have been corrected.
Recall some of the absolute consternation at British selectors for not using World Athletics selections to give athletes close to Olympic standards a chance to compete in Paris. The British Athletics management just dug deeper, protecting their selectors and rationalizing a much-criticized series of actions.
Each country seems to have its lunacies.
ADDIS ABABA (ETH): Unexpected problems accompany the preparation of Ethiopian athletes for the Olympic Games, informs AIPS Media. The National Olympic Committee has stepped into the selection process at the expense of the National Athletics Federation, and this has caused a wave of discontent. World Cross Country medallist Tsigie Gebreselama questioned the rationale behind her snub in selection for 5000m, as she is the world leader this year and has defeated two of the selected runners by winning the Prefontaine Classic DL. The marathon world leader Sutume Asefa argues the same, as she also defeated a nominated athlete in her victory in Tokyo. Experienced Yomif Kejelcha is also unsatisfied with his replacement in the 5000m, as he finished second in the fastest race of the year at Bislett DL via AIPS Media.
