IAAF ethics commission suspend Kenyan officials

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has suspended three Kenyan officials in relation to potential subversion of the anti-doping control process in Kenya.

“This provisional suspension, which is made in the interests of the integrity of the sport, is for a period of 180 days”, the IAAF said in a statement.

Athletics Kenya on Tuesday named former army chief Jackson Tuwei as the new temporary president to replace Isaiah Kiplagat, a day after he was suspended with two other officials by the IAAF ethics commission.

“Given that the AK president has been suspended by IAAF ethics commission, the meeting has ratified the earlier decision and confirmed Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Kiprono Tuwei as the President of Athletics Kenya”, with immediate effect, it added.

Kiplagat is also accused of receiving a gift of two motor vehicles from Qatar Association of Athletics Federation between 2014-15.

FILE – In this Saturday, June, 11, 2011 file photo, then Secretary General of Athletics Kenya David Okeyo pays his respects to the late Kenyan runner Samuel Wanjiru at a funeral home in Nairobi, Kenya.

The cases warranting investigation, against Kiplagat, Okeyo and Kinyua were twofold, the commission explained.

Russian Federation was later suspended from global competitions by the IAAF but the WADA report warned that “Russia is not the only country” wherein “orchestrated doping” was a problem in athletics.

That was the start of a rough ride for newly-elected IAAF president Sebastian Coe, whose predecessor Lamine Diack is under French investigation over allegations he accepted bribes to allow doped runners to continue to compete. The East African nation topped the medal table at this summer’s world championships in Beijing, thanks to their longtime dominance in distance running events but also because of first-ever golds in non-specialties like javelin and 400 meter hurdles.

The pressure on Athletics Kenya increased last month as the IAAF revealed it had been investigating alleged doping cover-ups in the country since March.