IAAF Suspends Three Kenyan Athletics Officials

(ATR) Three Kenyan track and field officials are hit with six-month bans by the International Association of Athletics Federations ethics commission.

The provisional bans are a result of suspected "potential subversions" of the anti-doping system in the country as well as "potential improper diversion from Athletics Kenya of funds received from Nike", says a statement from the IAAF ethics panel.

The IAAF says the suspensions of Athletics Kenya president Isaiah Kiplagat, vice president David Okeyo and former treasurer and 2015 world championships team leader Joseph Kinyua are "in the interests of the integrity of sport".

"Each individual is provisionally suspended from any office or position in either Athletics Kenya or the IAAF which each presently holds and is precluded from assuming any new office or position in either organization for a period of 180 days," says the statement.

The provisional suspensions mark a milestone in the investigative process the IAAF set out on in March. 2015. If the suspensions are upheld Okeyo will also relinquish his position as an IAAF Council member.

The IAAF has appointed Sharad Rao as the investigator into the matter. Rao, a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, will determine if disciplinary actions are necessary for the officials suspected of wrongdoing.

The IAAF says enough evidence exists to also initiate an investigation into Kiplagat’s apparent receipt of two vehicles from the Qatar Association of Athletics Federation in 2014 and 2015. The inquiry will try to determine if the vehicles were provided in exchange for votes to host the 2019 IAAF world championships. The IAAF selected Doha as the host of the championships in 2014.

Police are also launching an investigation into the claim that the three officials pocketed nearly $700,000 from Nike, a claim Nike has denied.

Written by KevinNutley

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