Kenyan International sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala has officially withdrawn from the 2025 Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich due to multiple injuries.
The 2025 Wanda Diamond League is set to begin on August 27th to August 28th, 2025, with athletes who have collected enough points across the circuit officially securing their spots in the prestigious season finale.
Injury to Omanyala
Omanyala had automatically qualified to feature in the Diamond League Finals after earning 20 points and placing him fifth in the 100 meters men standings for the competition, notably being the second African alongside Akani Simbine of the Republic of South Africa.
“Due to recent hip, iliopsoas and gluteal pain I’ve experienced over the past few weeks, I regret to inform you that I will be unable to participate in the Diamond League Finals 2025. I’m optimistic about my recovery and expect to be fully fit for Tokyo.”
The Kenyan sprinter and African record holder with a 9.77-second 100m time has faced some serious injuries before, including a 2017 doping suspension for betamethasone, a corticosteroid used for back injuries.
This is a major blow for Kenyan athletics, especially considering Omanyala was one of the top contenders in the 100m and had been looking to bounce back after a mixed season that included missing the Olympic final.
There have been recent worries and research on the physical toll of athletes’ training regimen and the fine line athletes tread with medical treatments.
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The timing of his withdrawal, just before the Tokyo World Athletics Championships (13-21 September 2025), raises the stakes for his recovery, with studies showing half of gluteal tendinopathy cases improve without intervention within a year, though intensive rehab could speed up his return.
Kenyans in Diamond League Finals
With the pulling out of Omanyala, Kenya will have to place their hopes of victory in the Diamond League on the other top-qualified athletes.
Men’s disciplines
800 m
Emmanuel Wanyonyi
Exceptionally dominant this season, Wanyonyi has racked up 30 points, sealing his spot in the final after stellar performances, including a world-leading, meeting-record 1:41.44 win in Monaco.
1500 m
Kenyan qualifiers include Timothy Cheruiyot, Elijah Motonei Manangoi, and Charles Cheboi Simotwo.
5000 m
Richard Yator is listed among the finalists in this distance.
Women’s Disciplines
1500 m
Kenyan finalists are Nelly Jepkosgei and Winny Chebet.
5000 m
Kenyan qualifiers include Hellen Obiri, Agnes Jebet Tirop, Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui, and Hyvin Kiyeng.
Other Notable Kenyan Performers
Reynold Cheruiyot has strong showings in the 1500 m and 5000 m, with 10 points in the 1500 m and another 8 in the 3000/5000 m standings.
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Beatrice Chebet leads the women’s 3000/5000 m standings with an impressive 16 points, making her a likely finalist. Chebet broke the world record in the 5000m at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene, a significant national achievement.
Edmund Serem (steeplechase) has posted standout Diamond League performances, though formal confirmation of his final qualification is pending.
How Diamond League scoring works
The Diamond League scoring system is designed to reward consistency and top finishes across the series.
In each Diamond League event (excluding the final), athletes earn points based on their finishing position:
| Position | Points |
| 1st | 8 |
| 2nd | 7 |
| 3rd | 6 |
| 4th | 5 |
| 5th | 4 |
| 6th | 3 |
| 7th | 2 |
| 8th | 1 |
Only the top 8 finishers score points, accumulating over the season to determine who qualifies for the Diamond League Final.
The winner of the Final is crowned Diamond League Champion for that event, regardless of points accumulated earlier.
Each regular season event offers prize money, and the final has a larger purse.
The Diamond League Champion in each discipline also receives a Diamond Trophy and a cash prize (often Ksh3.8 million or more).
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