Haile Gebrselassie to Enter Ethiopian Politics | Runner's World & Running Times

Haile Gebrselassie to Enter Ethiopian Politics

Former world record holder will run for parliament, maybe president.

By

Scott Douglas;

Image by

PhotoRun

Published

July 9, 2013

Haile Gebrselassie will run for a seat in the Ethiopian parliament in 2015, and would consider becoming the country's president,the Associated Press reports.

"My time [as a world-class runner] is almost over," Gebrselassie told the Associated Press on Monday. "[It's] a big mistake … to say let me avoid [politics]."

Gebrselassie said he would run as an independent for parliament, rather than as a member of the ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front. The next scheduled national election is for 2015; the elections have been held every five years since 1995. After the 2005 election, Gebrselassie helped to broker the release of jailed members of an opposition party.

Gebrselassie also told the Associated Press that he might run for president, a post that's filled by voting in the two houses of the Ethiopian parliament. The current president, Girma Wolde-Giorgis, was re-elected in 2007. The next presidential election is scheduled for September of this year. In Ethiopia's parliamentary system, the president is the head of state, while the prime minister is the head of government, and wields more power.

Gebrselassie, who has held world records from 2000 meters indoors to the marathon, and who won two Olympic gold medals at 10,000 meters, turned 40 in April. In May, he set masters world records at 10-K and 10 miles. He has not announced whether he'll run a fall marathon, where he would likely try to break the masters world record of 2:08:46.

Ethiopia’s Dibaba Tirunesh set another records at Diamond meet - More sports - StarAfrica.comMore sports – StarAfrica.com

Ethiopia’s Dibaba Tirunesh set another records at Diamond meet - More sports - StarAfrica.comMore sports – StarAfrica.com: " Paris Diamond League meet "

The London Olympic champion and World Record holder erased the Paris meet record (14:27.41) established by Kenya’s Cheruiyot Vivian Jepkemoi in 2010.

Dibaba beat her fellow Ethiopians Ayana Almaz (14:25.84 PB) at the second position and Burka Gelete (14:42.07 SB) while the other Ethiopians Diriba Buze (15:01.44) and  Haroye Alemitu (15:11.78) placed fifth and sixth respectively.

Ethiopia stripped of qualifying win - Football - Al Jazeera English

South Africa return to race for World Cup places as Ethiopia forfeit three points for fielding an ineligible player. Settings | No sound? | Speech enabled by ReadSpeaker

Botswana were awarded victory after Ethiopia fielded suspended midfielder Minyahile Bayene [AFP]

Ethiopia were stripped of three points in World Cup qualifying by FIFA on Monday for fielding an ineligible player in a game against Botswana, handing South Africa a lifeline for next year's tournament in Brazil. FIFA said Ethiopia forfeited their 2-1 win in Botswana on June 8 because Minyahile Beyene played in that game when he was suspended for receiving two yellow cards in earlier qualifiers. FIFA has awarded the match to Botswana 3-0. The sanction means Ethiopia are now only two points ahead of South Africa and three ahead of Botswana and not guaranteed a place in Africa's final playoffs for the World Cup ahead of the final round of Group A games in September. FIFA's disciplinary committee also fined Ethiopia's federation $6,348. Administrative blunder The Ethiopian Football Federation is unlikely to appeal the punishment having already admitted that Minyahile should not have played in Botswana. Minyahile was allowed to play because of an administrative blunder where officials "forgot'' he was suspended, the federation said. Ethiopia went on to beat South Africa 2-1 at home in their latest game on June 16 and thought then that they had qualified for the 10-team playoffs, which will decide Africa's five countries at the World Cup in Brazil. Ethiopia have never played at the World Cup. However, FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Ethiopia over Minyahile on the same day they joyously celebrated their progress. South Africa, the 2010 World Cup hosts, are on eight points and at home to Botswana in the final round of games on September 6. Ethiopia, now on 10 points, face an away game against Central African Republic, which could be played in neutral territory because of ongoing unrest in the country. Botswana, now with seven points, have an outside chance of qualifying for the playoffs if they beat South Africa and Ethiopia lose to Central African Republic, which cannot qualify. FIFA also is investigating two other African countries - Togo and Equatorial Guinea - for allegedly fielding ineligible players in World Cup qualifying, which could throw two other groups into chaos. Togo could forfeit their 2-0 win over Cameroon in Group I, which would put Cameroon above Libya and in pole position to take that group's spot in the playoffs. Equatorial Guinea could forfeit points to Cape Verde in Group B, meaning Tunisia's progress to the playoffs is not yet certain.

Source: AP