Injury rules out former champ Kimetto from Chicago marathon

World Marathon record holder Dennis Kimetto of Kenya has pulled out of the Chicago Marathon citing an ankle injury.

Kimetto, 33, had hoped to make his comeback after staying out for almost a year with nagging injuries.

"I am disappointed that I will not be running in Chicago. I wanted to reclaim my title and probably run a faster time. But it has to be like this and I'm a professional. I accept and will listen to my body. I will overcome it soon and return to competitive running," he said Friday from Eldoret.

Last week, speaking in Eldoret, Kimetto had expressed satisfaction with his training and said he was ready to make another attempt at his world record of 2:02.57 seconds.

"After setting the world record in Berlin, I have not done well in full marathons but I am glad that my body is now responding very well in training. I am raring to go," he said.

"I want to run a faster time in Chicago and see if I can take the course record," he added.

Kimetto set the Chicago record in 2:03:45, and set the world record the next year in Berlin in 2:02:57.

But he has struggled ever since, and did not even finish at the World Marathon championships in Beijing last year. He said he wanted Chicago to be the setting for his big comeback.

The Chicago Marathon course record holder sites a stress fracture in his left leg as the reason for his withdraw.

Fellow Kenyan Sammy Ndungu, last year's third-place finisher in Chicago, has also withdrawn along with American Nick Arciniaga, while Kenyan Paul Lonyangata has been added to the men's field.

The women's field has also seen some changes. Ethiopian Yebrgual Melese, who finished second in last year's race, has been added to the field, as has Ethiopian Meskerem Assefa. Also on the field are Kenyans Purity Rionoripio and Visiline Jepkesho.

The Chicago marathon race, which is part of the World Marathon Majors, will take place on Oct. 9. Endit