Kampala, July 11 (IANS): Uganda has dropped star athlete Moses Kipsiro from the team that will take part in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil from August 5.

"Although Kipsiro qualified for the marathon of the Olympics he has been dropped because his time was not the best compared to the three runners who have been picked for the race," Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) president Dominic Otuchet told Xinhua on Sunday.

Otuchet explained that the organisers of the Games said only three runners can represent a country in the Olympics and Uganda picked 2012 London Olympics gold medallist Stephen Kirpotich, Solomon Mutai and Alex Chesakit. Seven athletes including the three time Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Kipsiro had qualified for the Games.

He explained that all athletes who are making the team will do it on merit according to the best times they set in the qualification for the Games. 

He also said some athletes had been dropped for the 10,000 metres team leaving only Joshua Cheptegei, Moses Kuron and Timothy Toriotich.

Although 21 athletes hit the qualifying mark for the Ugandan team, only 17 athletes have so far made the final team before the last day of qualification worldwide on July 11.

Besides the athletes two boxers Ronald Serugo and Kenneth Katende have also qualified for the Olympics. The 2016 Summer Olympic programme slated to run August 5-21 features a total of 41 disciplines.