Bekele, who says he is totally healthy, is protesting his exclusion from the team as prior to Covid-19 it was stated that Ethiopia would select their marathon team based on who had the fastest times during the qualifying window and he led the pack on that front by over a minute. Due to injury, Birhanu Legese and Mule Wasihun will also miss out meaning the 2nd, 3rd and 10th fastest men in history will all miss the race.