IAAF suspends Athletics Kenya president Isaiah Kiplagat, two officials
The International Association of Athletics Federation has provisionally suspended Athletics Kenya president Isaiah Kiplagat, vice president and IAAF council member David Okeyo and former treasurer Joseph Kinyua, the IAAF announced.
The three officials were being reviewed by the IAAF ethics commission for a potential subversion of the anti-doping control process in Kenya as well as for potential improper diversion of funds received from Nike. The suspensions were made “in the interests of the integrity of the sport.”
Kiplagat reportedly accepted two gift cars from Qatar Athletics between 2014 and 2015 before Doha was awarded the 2019 IAAF World Championships over Eugene, Ore.
Okeyo allegedly pocketed about $700,000 from the federation’s accounts, according to a report by The Sunday Times. Much of the money came after deposits were made by Nike to ensure the national team remained sponsored by the swoosh.
Papa Massata Diack, son of former IAAF president Lamine Diack, who is under criminal investigation, pushed for Athletics Kenya to terminate its deal with Nike and sign with Chinese apparel company Li-Ning in 2010. A $200,000 deposit from Papa Massata Diack was withdrawn from the Athletics Kenya account by Okeyo. Kenya remains under contract with Nike.
Earlier this month, Kenyan coach Paul Simbolei claimed that three Kenyan marathon runners paid bribes to Athletics Kenya in exchange for lenient doping bans
- Christopher Chavez
