Panic mode at Riadha House

Athletics Kenya yesterday called an urgent executive committee meeting as reactions to the news that three of its bosses had been suspended by the world governing body, IAAF, reverberated across the country.

But while the social media was abuzz with glee, with most commentators saying “good riddance”, only one of the suspended officials said he would step aside.

Former Athletics Kenya (AK) treasurer Joseph Kinyua, who was suspended on Monday alongside David Okeyo and Isaiah Kiplagat for six months, said he would abide by the suspension and relinquish all his positions in athletics leadership.

Okeyo promised to issue a comprehensive statement on the situation, but did not do so by the time of going to Press.

He did not say categorically whether he would relinquish his positions in African Athletics Confederation, where he is the second vice president and IAAF Cross Country and Road Running Commission, where he is a member. He promised to give a detailed statement later.

“These are just provisional suspensions. It does not mean we are guilty, but pleas ewait for my statement,” said Okeyo.

Kiplagat said categorically: “No statement, thank you” and hang up.

Kinyua said: “I wish to relinquish my positions as AK Eastern Region chairman and as member of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya Marketing and Fund Raising Committee for the period of 180 days.

“I will leave my options open after the end of provisional suspension,” he said in a statement to the media.

But Kinyua denied accusations levelled against him.

“On Nike money which they said we diverted for personal use, I wish to state that I wrote a statement in March to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. I am still awaiting the outcome,” said Kinyua.

He was also accused of seeking to conceal positive doping tests on Kenyan athletes, and seeking to extort money from athletes who had failed doping tests.

He was also accused alongside Okeyo and Kiplagat of attempting to coerce a Kenyan athlete, who had tested positive for a prohibited substance, to make payment to conceal his positive tests.

To that Kinyua said: “On my part, I am anxiously looking forward to any disclosure of any evidence where any athlete can come out and link me with coercion and suppression of doping tests because such an athlete would be lying,” said Kinyua.

The AK meeting, chaired by Lt Gen (rtd) Jack Tuwei, was held Riadha House to deliberate the implications of the suspensions.