Pregnant Cheruiyot out of world championships

NAIROBI (AFP) –

Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot reacts after winning the 5000m Women’s Race during the Diamond League series Weltklasse athletics meeting, on September 8, 2011, in Zurich. Cheruiyot is expecting her first child and will not be defending her titles in Moscow this summer, the runner said Wednesday.

Kenya’s double world 5,000m and 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot is expecting her first child and will not be defending her titles in Moscow this summer, the runner said Wednesday.

“I am very happy to announce that I will take some time off from athletics this year as I am pregnant with my first child. I have been running for many years, and at 29, feel that now is the right time to start a family,” said Cheruiyot, in a statement.

“Unfortunately I will not be able to defend my world championships 5,000m and 10,000m titles in Moscow, but I will be back for the 2014 season and the 2015 World championships in Beijing,” she added.

Cheruiyot has not competed since she won a 5,000m silver and 10,000m bronze medal at the London Olympics last August.

She was however expected to launched her track season at the Kenya police athletics championships in Nairobi this weekend.