Top 800 Runner Loses in Petition

One day after running the fastest 800 meters in 11 years, world champion Wilson Kipketer was all but ruled out of running in the Games. An International Olympic Committee panel turned down a petition to allow the Kenyan-born Kipketer to compete in Atlanta under the Olympic flag.

Kipketer now lives in Denmark, but will not become a Danish citizen until 1997. The IOC executive board is expected to ratify the panel’s recommendation today.

The Danish Parliament refused to grant him early citizenship, and Kenya’s national Olympic committee said he could compete only for Kenya.