RWANDA’S top athlete Dieudonne Disi has been ruled out of next month’s IAAF World half Marathon Championship in Birmingham, England.

According to the local athletics federation, Disi does not have a visa to compete in the championship.

"Disi didn’t have time to return to Kigali to get the visa because he was busy preparing for the Francophone Games in Paris,” the technical director of the local athletics federation Emmanuel Murenzi said.

With Disi out, the men’s team is down to four; Sylvain Rukundo, Gervais Hakizimana, Eric Sebahire and Jean Baptista Simuceka.

Claudette Mukasakindi is Rwanda’s sole female athlete for the championship.

The federation had initially named four female athletes (Epiphanie Nyirabarame, Janet Nyirahabimana, Pelaggie Musabimana and Jean d’luc Mukakigeri) for the marathon but had to revisit the decision due to financial constraints.

Disi was Rwanda’s top performer in last year’s edition held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil after clocking one hour, three minutes and three seconds to finish sixth.

The podium slots were claimed by Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese, Patrick Makau Musyoki of Kenya and Ahmad Hassan Abdullah of Qatar.

In 2006, Disi finished placed 9th in Debrecen.

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