AK’s ban on managers not valid, say top athletes: Rosa and Volare athletes dismiss AK's ban on agents

Doping
Athletes presser

Furious reactions greeted Athletics Kenya’s move to ban Italian athletics management company Rosa Associati alongside Dutchman Gerard Van de Veen from managing Kenyan athletes.

Yesterday, elite athletes from the two firms brushed the ban aside, saying they read malice in it. In a statement read by Wilson Kipsang (top right), the former world marathon record holder managed by Volare Sports, the athletes said they suspected political play and tactical moves from Riadha House.

“The act to suspend Rosa and Volare Sports over accusations that they are involved in doping has caused massive unrest in the athletics world. The suspension is unprofessional unless proved that the mentioned firms are truly involved. The failure to communicate to athletes by tabling facts and evidence proves that AK handles matters in an unprofessional way,” read the statement. “The suspension has distracted athletes’ training programmes and competitions, and put the image of Kenya in question ahead of major global events like IAAF World Relays, IAAF Diamond League series and London and Boston marathons.”

marathon winner

Athletes from Volare included world 42km record holder Dennis Kimetto, 2011 Boston Marathon winner Geoffrey Mutai, 2011 Paris Marathon winner Peter Some, Winnie Chepkorir and Vivian Chepchumba.

Two-time world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, Commonwealth Games 1,500m champion James Magut, 2009 Rotterdam marathon winner Duncan Kibet and Andrew Rotich were among athletes from the Rosa Associati stable.

On Monday, AK announced the ban and promised a raft of solutions for the athletes’ competitions.

“The two agents manage a huge number of elite athletes and we will work with IAAF and meet promoters, agree on the modalities of managing these athletes so they don’t miss competitions,” AK President Isaiah Kiplagat said.

Kipsang, who is president of the Professional Athletes Association of Kenya (Paak), faulted AK’s decision that they could manage the athletes.

They invoked Rule 7 Article 1 of IAAF Competition Rule 2014/2015, which states: “Athletes may use the services of an Athletes’ Representative to assist them in the negotiation of their athletics programme and in such other matters as they may agree. Alternatively, athletes may negotiate their own Athletics Programmes.”