RWANDA Athletics Federation (RAF) has ruled out participation in the first edition of the IAAF World Relays, which will be held on May 24-25 in Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas. 

Rwanda Athletics Federation's technical director Jean Pierre Ndacyayisenga told Times Sports yesterday: "Initially, we had plans of sending a team to Bahamas but we are constrained by the inability to process visas as well funds.” 

"About Rwf10 million is needed for us to send a team to Bahamas but we are nopt in position to raise such amount of money now,” he added.

He said: "We have decided to organise a relay competition before the end of the year aimed at scouting the best runners who we can field in the next edition.”

Close to 800 athletes will compete at the first edition of the IAAF World Relays. 

The top eight teams in both the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m will automatically qualify for the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing.