Ezekiel Kemboi named to the elite IAAF Athletes' Commission

Ezekiel Kemboi celebrates winning the men's 3000 metres steeplechase final during the15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China August 24, 2015. (Photo: Reuters)

Kenya's world and Olympic steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi has been named to the IAAF Athlete's Commission.

Kemboi, the only person to win four 3,000 metre steeplechase world titles, joins Britain's women's world marathon record holder, Paula Radcliffe, Brazilian pole vaulter Fabiana Murer, Michael Frater of Jamaica, Alina Talay of Belarus and American heptathlete Ashton Eaton as new appointees of the 18-member commission for 2016-2019.

The 33-year-old, who plans to retire after next year's Rio Olympics told AFP: "It is a big honour to join such an elite list of current and former athletes. I hope to use the position to articulate and fight for the rights of the athletes."

The commission is expected to elect a new chairperson to replace Namibian great Frankie Fredericks, who is expected to continue in an honorary capacity.

With a major doping scandal facing world athletics, with much attention on Kenya, IAAF chief Sebastian Coe said: "Together our task is to respond to those challenges and rebuild trust in the integrity of competition supporting the aspirations and dreams of the athletes."