unscrupulous agents and are ending up burnt out because of poor coaching methods or abuse.

And although there is no suggestion that any of those competitors from the African nation taking part in this weekend's races have fallen victim to such things, organisers of International Race Weekend have in the past had their own problems with those representing their runners.

At last year's event, one agent reportedly tried to extract additional funds for his runner -- and change the event he was contracted to run in -- at the last minute.

Race Committee chairman Philip Guishard admitted there had been a "major problem'' but refused to name who the agent was acting for.

Guishard said: "This year has been fine, but we did have a major problem last year with one agent right up until the last mionute. It got to the point where I had to say to him: `Sorry, mate, this is what is going to happen.' "I felt he had been attempting to manipulate our position. Normally, we very actively try to negotiate with the Kenyans so that we rarely end up having to pay the full fare for them to get here.

"We usually tell the agent that they can take part if he can get the athlete to go to North America for a number of events over a period of time. But this one was trying to say that his runner couldn't be expected to take part in two races over the same distance in a row.

"Fortunately I know that a number of the Kenyans who were with this particular agent have now switched to another.'' There are only three Kenyans, usually renowned for their middle and long distance skills, among the invited athlete list this year -- and all of them will compete in tonight's Front Street Mile.

Burnt out and abused: See Page 17