World 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot has been included in Kenya’s athletics team for the Tokyo Olympics at the expense of youngster Kamar Etyang.

Cheruiyot finished fourth at the national trials in Kasarani last month after picking a hamstring Strain in the final 50m of the race and missed out on the top three slots for automatic qualification.

Etyang was been excluded from the team on technicality as he has not undergone the requisite three out of competition tests as prescribed by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Kenya is placed in Category A of the World Athletics and WADA watch list and stringent anti-doping rules have been outlined for all its athletes headed into international competitions.

Each athlete must undergo three out of competition tests and all of them must be done three weeks apart within a 10 months’ period and three weeks to the championships, including one mandatory blood test.

Etyang has not fulfilled these requirements and has thus not been included in the team travelling to Tokyo. Another athlete who has been knocked out via the same rules is US-based 400m hurdler Moitalel Mpoke.

Athletics Kenya had earlier stated they were trying to talk to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to make an exception for the 19-year old as he is an upcoming athlete, but the request was turned down.

Etyang timed 3:33.12 at the trials, finishing second behind Charles Simotwo who timed 3:33.02.

Cheruiyot will now join Simotwo and Abel Kipsang who finished third in the team to Tokyo.

The reigning world champion has been in sizzling form this season and last week set a new personal best of 3:28.28 while winning the Monacp Diamond League.