Nairobi, March 7 (IANS): Kenya's hopes of clinching gold at the World Cross-Country Championships have been dealt a blow after Faith Chepng'etich quit the event due to an ankle injury.

Chepng'etich, who is the reigning world cross-country junior women's champion, has since been given permission to leave camp in Embu in eastern Kenya and travel to Amsterdam for treatment, reports Xinhua.

"I got the injury before the trials. However, when I competed in Nairobi, I aggravated it and I had to report to training camp with it. However, after trying to train, it became obvious it was something serious," she said on Friday.

Coach David Leting confirmed that Chepng'etich has been having trouble with the ankle.

Chepng'etich said she will depart for Amsterdam on Sunday for specialised treatment and should the doctors clear her, she will be ready to compete again.

"It is not a done deal that I will not be running again. But I will listen to the body and what the doctors will say," she said.

"For now am just resting at home. I have to wait and see how fast it will heal," she said.

The World Cross Country Championships will be held in Guiyang, China on March 28.