ATHLETES NOW PLAN BOYCOTT: We won’t run at Olympics, angry runners threaten

BY KEVIN TUNOI

Wesley Korir (right) and Wilson Kipsang at the Press conference in Eldoret yesterday. [PHOTO: KEVIN TUNOI / STANDARD]

Athletes have threatened to boycott the Olympics and World Championships if the Government pushes for double taxation of their earnings.

They noted that the move is likely to push athletes to change their nationalities to represent countries that have friendly taxation regimes.

The athletes stated that they would not honour a letter from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) demanding payment from their earnings.

They also noted that they would form a union that would protect athletes from exploitation and also address their grievances.

Led by Wesley Korir, the Boston Marathon champion, and Wilson Kipsang, the World Record holder, the athletes explained that KRA had no mechanisms to determine the amount to be taxed.

“What are the criteria they use in determining the amount that they claim we should be taxed?” they questioned, adding that the authority got their information on their winnings from media outlets.

Korir, who is also the Cherangany legislator, explained that should the Government continue with the trend of demanding taxes, they would be forced to invest their money outside the country.

“We would rather invest in countries that appreciate us and would rather have us represent them than in a country where earnings from our sweat are taxed,” the Boston champion said.

Korir noted that majority of the athletes are civil servants and have invested heavily in real estate and other businesses, which already attract taxation, and further taxing would be detrimental to the development of athletes.

The MP stated that the oil-rich countries pay handsomely for gold medals athletes win in competitions, yet Kenya’s tax collector was looking for ways to reap from athletes’ earnings.

“Qatar pays her gold medallists Sh100 million while this country is trying to devise ways of fleecing the athletes of their hard-earned money,” he noted.

Kipsang (pictured, right) stated that, contrary to common belief that athletes earn huge sums of money, they pocket only 15 per cent of their winnings.

“The breakdown for taxation and deductions is as follows: 30 to 35 per cent for the country of origin, 15 per cent for the agent, 10 per cent for the manager, and now KRA wants 30 per cent of that amount. That is exploiting us,” the marathon world record holder said.

Kipsang explained that the athletes’ union would in a few weeks be unveiled to address the concerns and grievances of athletes countrywide.

He noted that they help to brand the country at international races and should be acknowledged and treated with respect as a result.

The athletes called for better health care, stating that they are forced to seek medical attention outside the country due to lack of specialised physicians.

They further called for the improvement of sporting facilities in the country to ensure there are consistent and better performances in competitions.

– [email protected]