Tanzania runner's Olympic hopes dashed By | Wednesday, April 25  2012 at  20:27

The dream of competing at the 2012 London Olympics for long distance runner Fabian Joseph went up in smoke yesterday when the Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) slapped an indefinite suspension on him for alleged indiscipline.

TOC secretary general Filbert Bayi confirmed that the athlete would not be considered for selection or take part in any championship until after the Olympics.
This means the newly crowned Ngorongoro Marathon champion will not compete in next month’s Prague International Marathon in Czech Republic.

Sanctioned by the World’s athletics governing body (IAAF), the Prague Marathon will serve as a qualifying event for London Olympics.

On Monday, Joseph went on record as saying a decision by TOC to bar him from fine-tuning alongside the national team had not derailed his aspirations of securing a ticket for the London Games.

Joseph, one of the country’s best marathoners at the moment, voiced optimism that he would secure a ticket for the games at the Prague Marathon.

Last week, TOC expelled the athlete from camp after he reportedly refused to apologise after breaking camping rules by failing to join the team on time after last month’s Ngorongoro Marathon in Manyara Region.

The national athletics team has been camping at Filbert Bayi Secondary School in Kibaha, Coast Region since last month.

Two athletes have so for booked places at the London Olympics. They are middle distance runner Zakia Mrisho and marathoner Samson Ramadhan.