Kenya has turned down a request from twice Olympic medallist Bernard Lagat to defend his world indoor 3,000 metres title in Moscow as a US competitor.

Lagat became a naturalised US citizen in May 2004, but under International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules he is ineligible to race for the country in international competitions for three years after citizenship unless given a waiver by Kenya's federation.

"We received the request but after careful consideration, we ruled it was not possible to allow Lagat to run for his new nation in Moscow until he clears the mandatory years of eligibility," Athletics Kenya chairman Isiah Kiplagat said.

"It is that simple and we don't intend to make it a big issue. Lagat just has to wait for the years to elapse before running for the US."

The waiver would have also allowed Lagat, 31, to compete in next month's US championships in Boston.

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