The Ethiopian squad at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday (Jan 10) has been hit by multiple visa rejections. Even African nation Eritrea, usually a strong contender at the World Cross, is absent from Tallahassee, perhaps after struggling with similar visa issues to their neighbour Ethiopia. These include Brits such as Abbie Donnelly, who finished an excellent 20th at the last World Cross in Belgrade in 2024, plus Scott Beattie, who was a fine fourth in last month's Euro Cross. The last World Cross in Belgrade less than two years ago was similar, with most of Europe quietly boycotting the championships. In the 1990s, for instance, Birhan Dagne ran for Ethiopia at the World Cross in Durham but then fled to London to apply for asylum.

Source: Ethiopian News January 07, 2026 13:19 UTC