PRAGUE -- Eliud Kiptanui of Kenya, expected to be one of the top challengers for the podium, was forced to scratch from the Volkswagen Prague Marathon it was announced on Friday.

According to elite athlete coordinator Jana Moberly, the 26-year-old Kiptanui's manager Volker Wagner was unable to secure the runner a visa through the German embassy.

Watch the Volkswagen Prague Marathon LIVE on FloTrack Sunday!

Kiptanui is a familiar face here in the Czech capital, having won this race in 2010. Last fall, he showed the world that he is still among the leading marathoners on the circuit, running a personal-best 2:05:21 in Berlin, a time slightly faster than his Prague course record of 2:05:39. Kiptanui last raced in February, finishing sixth in the Tokyo Marathon in 2:08:55.

However, the elite men's field for the race remains strong with six runners sporting personal-bests under 2:07 expected to challenge defending champion Felix Kandie of Kenya.

The Prague Marathon will be live-streamed and archived on FloTrack Sunday April 8.

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