Isaiah Kiplagat AK Chairman during a press conference in preparation for Moscow World Athletics Championship at the AK Head offices. (24/04/13) Photo: Jonah Onyango.

The sudden death of former Nondescripts centre player Ogeto Gecheo last Tuesday simply adds to the growing list of sports personalities who have died under mysterious circumstances.

The 20-year-old player suffered a spinal injury after tackling an opponent during their Kenya Cup tie against Strathmore University Leos at Madaraka Grounds a week ago. Such scenario continues to raise questions about safety of sports personalities in Kenya.

Even before Gacheo has been laid to rest, rugby fans have been thrown into mourning after Mwamba RFC player Victor Wayodi collapsed on the pitch during a Kenya Cup game against Top Fry Nakuru and sadly passed on.

The tragedies are not isolated with rugby, at this point, however, as athletics was worst hit this season. During the Athletics Kenya Golden Gala on Wednesday night at Panari Hotel, it did not go unnoticed, that this has really been a dark year.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) observed 40 seconds of silence in honour of five athletes –world cross country runner Pamela Lisoreng, Gladys Wamoyo, Ian Mutuku, Japan-based Johana Maina and Nicholas Kimeli Korir –alongside former AK President Isaiah Kiplagat, who all passed on this year.

This follows a trail of saddening deaths of athletes that have occurred in recent years. In 2013, Geoffrey Tarno collapsed after running for about 40km. Unknown to him, this particular race would not add another medal to his fast-growing collection. With less than two kilometres to go, he collapsed in a heap and died on the track, aged 30.

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