Ngugi established himself as a track runner when he won his heat of the 5000 m at the 1987 World Championships in Rome.

At the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, Ngugi tried exactly the same tactics which had won him the Olympic gold medal.

Although he tripped and fell after only two laps and lost 35 m on the rest of the field, he caught the leading group and establish a gap of 40 m at the bell.

But in this time, that wasn't enough, as Andrew Lloyd from Australia won by a mere 0.08 seconds in an incredible finishing burst.

However, the long battle to contest the decision brought an end to his running career as his physical fitness had heavily declined over the period.