Athletics Kenya members want Ruth Jebet’s Bahrain move probed

NAIROBI, KENYA: Athletics Kenya members have raised concern over the defection of younger stars to oil-rich countries in the Middle East, with the latest case being of Ruth Jebet, the World Junior steeplechase champion now running for Bahrain.

Rodgers Kapsiywo, a member from Mt Elgon, wants AK to own up and reveal the people involved in the transfer of youth and junior athletes who have not been exposed abroad.

“We are concerned AK is covering up this case. Who sanctioned these transfers? A year ago, these athletes were in our learning institutions competing in school games, how come they have been fast-tracked to change nationality without AK’s knowledge?” wondered Kapsiywo.

“Some officials in athletics are keen to reap from where they have not sown. That is why we have these wrangles between the national executive and the branch offices. The people who are suffering are athletes.

Concerns have been raised before as raw talent in track and field have been poached - changing their nationality in return for cash. AK Nairobi Branch chairman Barnaba Korir, said lack of structures and support for juniors is pushing them to switch nationality.

Jebet’s coach Gregory Kilonzo, from Riruta Satellite High School, is not the first tactician to work for the Arabs. Mike Kosgey and Boniface Tirem, Kenya’s assistant coach with the Commonwealth Games team in Glasgow, have their palms oiled with the Arab cash.

Whereas Kilonzo has been serving a suspension by Athletics Kenya (not related with his working for Bahrain), he returned to the country recently from a seminar in Japan after he was seconded by AK.

“AK sanctioned the transfer knowing that they are arming the opposition. As members of AK we must act and force the chairman to address the issue. Jack Tuwei, AK Vice President in-charge of Youth Development can’t say he was never informed before,” said Kapsiywo.

Tuwei, who was the head of delegation for the team to World Junior Championships said: “She surprised us all lining up in the race with a Bahrain passport. We are commencing investigation,” said Tuwei

Jebet took the opportunity to run for Bahrain and transferred her eligibility in February 2013. In April she won the 3,000m and the 5,000m at the Kenyan secondary school championships.

She excelled on her debut for Bahrain, coming second in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2013 Arab Athletics Championships.