Just weeks after Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele announced his departure from the 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon, two more prominent athletes from the East African nation have withdrawn from the April 26th race. 

 

Top Ethiopians and potential contenders Ayele Abshero and Guye Adola have pulled out of the London Marathon due to injuries, and their absence leaves a gaping hole in Ethiopia’s chances against the likes of Dennis Kimetto, Wilson Kipsang, and Geoffrey Mutai, all from Kenya. 

 

Abshero has finished in the top five in London over the past two years, 3rd in 2013 and 4th in 2014, while Adola, who was slated to make his debut, was the 2014 IAAF World Half Marathon bronze medalist. 

 

The 24-year-old Abshero is the second-fastest Ethiopian marathoner of all-time in 2:04:23, behind only Ethiopian legend and former World record holder Haile Gebrselassie’s 2:03:59. 

 

Although Adola was only making his debut, big expectations were placed on him for London after his victory in November’s New Delhi Half Marathon, where he won in 59:06, the 20th best in history. 

Guye Adola was 3rd in the 2014 World Half Marathon Championships

But Adola struggled to a 4th place finish in the Lisbon Half Marathon last month in 60:45, 73 seconds behind race winner Mo Farah. 

 

The top remaining Ethiopian in the field is 19-year-old Tsegaye Mekonnen (2:04:32), who won the 2014 Dubai Marathon in his debut as an 18-year-old. Mekonnen finished 5th in London in 2014.