T. NashipaeCalls for athletes to compete clean dominate Nandi Barngetuny Memorial Mountain Run
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 10.01.23. | 09:48
Different political leaders called on athletes to avoid doping, as it taints Kenya’s image globally
The Nandi Barngetuny Memorial Mountain Run culminated on Sunday 8 January with different political leaders urging athletes to shun doping. Among them was Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei who urged all Kenyan athletes to compete clean in order to have a clean sport.
Speaking after the Barngetuny Memorial Mountain Run in Tinderet, Nandi County, Tuwei challenged athletes to shun doping and run clean, saying that the menace is ruining the country’s name as an athletic powerhouse.
“World Athletics President Seb Coe is in the country and this is because some athletes have decided to ruin our good name by cheating. We have had many discussions, but the bottom line is to have clean sport," said Tuwei.
Stephen Sang, the governor of Nandi County, echoed Tuwei’s comments when he told the participants that the area (Nandi County) produced world-class athletes who have won in fair competition.
Sang also stated that the best method to combat the doping problem is to find the training facilities used by athletes and punish them along with their managers and coaches.
“We have clean athletes, but there are those who just want to make money, but I think the way forward is to identify camps that are notorious for this exercise and make sure they face the law. The practice has to stop because the world no longer trusts Kenyan athletes when they line up for competition,” said Sang.
Also in attendance were Julius Melly, a member of parliament for Tindiret, and Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago who all urged athletes to avoid unscrupulous doctors in order to protect the country’s image.
"We had athletes who played fair sports, like Kipchoge Keino, Janeth Jepkosgei, and Patrick Sang, among others, and they brought honor home. Why would you consider using drugs, which will only cause your careers to suffer, to destroy what had been built up all those years? Inquired Mandago.
This comes after Kenya narrowly escaped sanctioning last year following surging cases of doping. The government vowed to invest a whooping Ksh3 million to help fight the menace.
Patrick Kipng’eno and Ruth Daniel Jebet dominated the male and female’s category respectively. Josephat Kiprotich came in second (57:22.38), and Hillary Maiyo took third (57:36.09).
Jebet triumphed in the women's race in 69:05, beating Ruth Chepkemoi (69:47) and Bornes Kitur (72:58).
Selected results
12km senior women
1. Ruth Daniels Jebet- 69:05
2. Bornes Kitur- 69:47
3. Ruth Chepkemoi- 72:58
4. Peres Kiyai- 73:11
5. Priscila Cherono-74:45
12km senior men
1. Patrick Kipngeno- 56:21.51
2. Josephat Kiprotich- 57:22.38
3. Hillary Maiyo-57:36.09
4. Erick Kiptoo- 58:19.58
5. Fredrick Domongele- 58:56.80
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