Kenya Olympics Boss: 'New Constitution Has to be Adopted'

(ATR) Kip Keino tells Around the Rings Kenyan Olympic officials are set to meet on the eve of the upcoming IOC Executive Board meeting in hopes to avoid a suspension.

Keino, President of the Kenyan Olympic Committee (NOC-K), tells ATR "things will be solved; we are meeting [Mar. 15]," in an attempt to pass a new constitution. Ahead of the meeting, Keino says officials "are worried," about the situation, but know there is no alternatives that would avoid an IOC suspension.

"The new constitution has to be adopted," Keino said. "If we don’t adopt it, then that’s the end of it."

The NOC-K faces an IOC suspension over autonomy breaches by the Kenyan government in the wake of the Rio 2016 Olympics. Numerous Kenyan sport officials were arrested post-Rio 2016 for various offenses including graft and theft of team equipment.

The sports ministry attempted to disband the NOC-K, citing "mismanagement," from top leadership. Eventually, the move from the sports minister was struck down in court, but a power struggle remains according to Keino.

After the new constitution failed to pass on March 7, the IOC said in a statement it would "halt payments," to the NOC-K for failing to address the autonomy issues. An IOC spokesperson told ATR the body was "extremely disappointed," that an agreement reached in Sept. 2016 was not implemented.

Now, the IOC executive board will meet on Feb. 15-17 in PyeongChang, where the Kenya situation will be discussed. Keino says that he "hopes for the best," and that the NOC-K does enough to avoid a full suspension. If the NOC-K is suspended by the IOC, Kenyan athletes would no longer be able to compete in international events under their home country's flag.

Regardless, issues still continue to plague the NOC-K as a result of the power struggle. Keino said computers were seized by the ministry last year during the government disbanding, which still have not been returned. He shifted the blame on the failure to pass the constitution on "those who are making noise…the people behind the minister," and said the NOC’s executive is fully behind the constitution.

Requests for comment from the Kenyan Sports Ministry about the ongoing situation were not returned.

After the chaotic vote on March 7, local media outlets reported that only four out of the 11 executive board members voted for the constitution. Keino said to ATR he voted in favor of its passing, contradicting some local reports.

"Well we have had a discussion [with the IOC] and came up with a solution," Keino said. "We have to accept the new constitution."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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