Athletics: NIKE kit brought discontent, says report

By FeverPitch Team

Sally Kipyego

Nike, official kit for Team Kenya in London Olympics, introduced a new uniform for medal winners, which the report made by the Management Committee now says brought discontent to team members.

The report also accuses a Kenyan official of directing that Sally Kipyego and Vivian Cheruiyot, who won silver and bronze in 10,000m, remove the medal presentation uniforms that had been provided by Nike in London for that purpose.

“The reason for directing the removal of the presentation uniform is because he claimed that he was not aware they would put on the uniform,” says the report.

While athletes had been issued with ceremonial uniforms, Nike introduced a new type of uniform while in London for athletes who won medals.

“This type of uniform, although a good idea, brought discontent among the athletes who claimed to have been discriminated against by not being accorded the same treatment by Nike.

Indiscipline athletes

The management Team now wants agents not to be allowed to control athletes who have been named in national teams and neither should athletes be allowed to participate in competitions that can affect their performance in the Games.

It says athletes who exhibit indiscipline should be replaced regardless of their status.

It says NOC-K will have the final say to appoint all the team officials in accordance with the Olympic Charter to avoid a situation where coaches and some medical staff consider themselves as appointees of a particular federation to the extent of withholding vital information from the team management.

It wants disciplinary measures to be taken against any official who behaves contrary to NOC-K laid down procedures.

“Athletes should be encouraged and educated on the importance of reporting early for training camp and those proceeding for competitions abroad are advised to seek permission from the management committee and not from federations.

“Athletes’ spouses and private training partners should not be allowed to reside in the camp unless prior arrangements are made if team officials quota permits.

“In future, once the team has been selected and handed over, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya should not allow federations to continue micro-managing their respective sports disciplines.