The Kip Keino Classic is almost here, and new drama has unfolded in the arena. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was all set to open her season in the 100m event at this meet until news broke that she has bowed out of the competition due to a knee injury. Sha’Carri Richardson is also set to compete in the event. However, she was asked to compete in the 200m race instead of the 100m one, which she clearly prefers.

The organizers of the meet had specifically put Richardson in the 200m category because they wished to buttress their chances of hosting the Diamond League event in the future. And now, the tables have turned again.

Athletics Kenya flips again on Sha’Carri Richardson

In breaking news, after Fraser-Pryce was ruled out of the Kip Keino Classic due to her knee injury, the organizers are now looking to book Sha’Carri Richardson for the 100m event, instead of the 200m one. After blazing to the finish line in the Doha Diamond League and winning the race with an impressive time of 10.79s, Richardson has become the fastest 100m runner of this season.

Read more: “I Am Deeply Disappointed”: Upsetting Setback Pushes Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Out of Her Season Opener

Despite of her decorated caliber in the 100m race, Kip Keino Classic officials had other ideas for her. They shifted her to the 200m category, a decision that Richardson was not happy with, but acquised to. And now, Athletics Kenya is back at it again. A video of one of the officials landed on Twitter, where they revealed that they were in talks with the track star to jettison back to the 100m race, now that they have lost a major competitor in that category after Fraser-Pryce announced that she will not be competing.

Richardson, likely frustrated with the sudden change, shared the video on her Twitter account, with the caption, “Would y’all like for me to address this ??” After taking the explicit decision to break apart the two athletes in different categories only for their benefit, it is not clear why they want to bring Richardson back to her main event.

Jamaican world champion out of running, literally

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the five-time world champion in the 100-meter dash, will not be seen fighting for the finish line at this year’s Kip Keino Classic. an unexpected knee injury has forced her to withdraw from the race and return home to recoup. Earlier, on Thursday, she injured her knee during training. However, instead of resting, Fraser-Pryce continued to push herself harder.

Turns out, her efforts made the injury worse, bad enough that she had to withdraw. The consequences are that Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will not be able to kickstart her season the way she wanted to. On Friday, Fraser-Pryce checked out of her hotel in Kenya with her coach Reynaldo Walcott and physiotherapist Keneil Brown, on her way back home. No doubt, her sudden departure has left her fans heartbroken.

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