Athletics: Elliot rap for Bekele

Former Commonwealth 1500m champion Peter Elliott has hit out following double World Cross Country champion Kenenisa Bekele’s withdrawal from Saturday’s Balmoral Road Races.

Elliott, who is responsible for assembling the elite fields, has been told by Bekele’s management team ‘‘he is too tired and has gone home to Ethiopia’’ instead of preparing for the BUPA five-mile race on Royal Deeside.

Last weekend Bekele became the first athlete ever to win both the IAAF Championships’ long and short-course gold medals on successive days in Dublin.

‘‘I’m really disappointed that Bekele will not be coming to Balmoral,’’ said Elliott. ‘‘I’m also very angry that no-one consulted with me when I was in Dublin.

‘‘People have short memories. Last Christmas we bent over backwards to include Bekele in the Great North Cross Country when the budget had already been allocated. I’m very surprised we have been repaid in this manner. It isn’t as if he is injured.’’