<p>Olympic and World champion Kenenisa Bekele believes the clean athletes have been hard done by the provisional suspension of the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) from international competition by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).<br /><br /></p>.<p>Bekele, the most accomplished runner in IAAF World Cross Country Championships history, felt it was not fair to suspend the whole country because of some dope offenders.<br /><br />"Not all of them are doping. There are many clean athletes, their career will get damaged. I think it is not fair to ban a country. People who have cheated should be banned. As a sportsman, I feel for the athletes of Russia," said Bekele, who is the the event ambassador of the 8th Airtel Delhi Half Marathon here on Sunday.<br /><br />World and Olympic record holder in 5,000 and 10,000 metres, Bekele has been hampered by a spate of injuries since last five years. After a forgettable 2012 Olympics, where he finished fourth in the 10000M event, behind his brother Tariku, the 33-year-old bounced back with his first race of 2013, the Great Ireland Run, for a second time with a timing of 60:09, beating Mo Farah by just one second. He then made a successful marathon debut in Paris in 2014 with a record-breaking 2:05:04 victory.<br /><br />However, injuries returned, forcing him out of the Dubai Marathon in January and later from the London Marathon before which he had an injury to his right Achilles tendon. The 33-year-old admitted making mistakes causing frequent injuries but said he won’t give up easily. “I want to enjoy the sports more, I want to participate in Olympics and World Championship in future. Injury has been a problem for the last five years and it is tough but I won't give up and hopefully make a comeback,” said Bekele.<br /><br />"I had made mistakes. When you are in good shape, you feel positive you don't think about it. This time, it is too late. If I would have treated myself earlier, consulted by physio may be I could have been injury-free but you can’t help at time in life.”<br /><br />Talking about his coming events the three-time Olympic gold medallist said: "I have a small injury. So, I will see how I recover and then take a call on how I can participate in London and Tokyo Marathons."<br /><br />Bekele was all praise for British runner Farah, who recently added more glitter to his tally at the 2015 World Championships. "He is a great athlete. He is at the top now. What he did is great but what he will do in future, we have to wait and see," said Bekele.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Olympic and World champion Kenenisa Bekele believes the clean athletes have been hard done by the provisional suspension of the All-Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) from international competition by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).<br /><br /></p>.<p>Bekele, the most accomplished runner in IAAF World Cross Country Championships history, felt it was not fair to suspend the whole country because of some dope offenders.<br /><br />"Not all of them are doping. There are many clean athletes, their career will get damaged. I think it is not fair to ban a country. People who have cheated should be banned. As a sportsman, I feel for the athletes of Russia," said Bekele, who is the the event ambassador of the 8th Airtel Delhi Half Marathon here on Sunday.<br /><br />World and Olympic record holder in 5,000 and 10,000 metres, Bekele has been hampered by a spate of injuries since last five years. After a forgettable 2012 Olympics, where he finished fourth in the 10000M event, behind his brother Tariku, the 33-year-old bounced back with his first race of 2013, the Great Ireland Run, for a second time with a timing of 60:09, beating Mo Farah by just one second. He then made a successful marathon debut in Paris in 2014 with a record-breaking 2:05:04 victory.<br /><br />However, injuries returned, forcing him out of the Dubai Marathon in January and later from the London Marathon before which he had an injury to his right Achilles tendon. The 33-year-old admitted making mistakes causing frequent injuries but said he won’t give up easily. “I want to enjoy the sports more, I want to participate in Olympics and World Championship in future. Injury has been a problem for the last five years and it is tough but I won't give up and hopefully make a comeback,” said Bekele.<br /><br />"I had made mistakes. When you are in good shape, you feel positive you don't think about it. This time, it is too late. If I would have treated myself earlier, consulted by physio may be I could have been injury-free but you can’t help at time in life.”<br /><br />Talking about his coming events the three-time Olympic gold medallist said: "I have a small injury. So, I will see how I recover and then take a call on how I can participate in London and Tokyo Marathons."<br /><br />Bekele was all praise for British runner Farah, who recently added more glitter to his tally at the 2015 World Championships. "He is a great athlete. He is at the top now. What he did is great but what he will do in future, we have to wait and see," said Bekele.<br /><br /></p>
