Emmanuel Korir OUT of World Indoors Due to Visa Issues
By Jonathan Gault
March 2, 2018
BIRMINGHAM, England — One of the best events of the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships just lost some star power. Kenya’s Emmanuel Korir will not compete on Friday in the first round of the men’s 800 meters due to visa problems.
Korir posted on Facebook on Thursday that he would not be able to make it to the meet, and his coach Paul Ereng confirmed the news later on Twitter.
No Emmanuel Korir in @WICBham2018 ? pic.twitter.com/OMs96HeFE6
— Emily Evans (@RunEmilyERun) March 2, 2018
https://twitter.com/ErengP/status/969475357161213952
LetsRun.com spoke with Korir’s agent Karen Locke, who said that Korir the UK consulate was not able to process his visa, which would have allowed him to travel to Birmingham.
“The IT system has shut down in the UK consulate in New York,” Locke said.
The Daily Nation says Ereng texted a Kenyan official. “It’s a shame Korir could not obtain a visa. We have been in New York for a whole week and we are now heading back to Texas today after the hitch.”
Korir is in New York and was hoping to fly to the meet from there, but instead will return to his training base in El Paso, Texas.
“He says he’ll catch you outdoors,” Locke said.