CHESS: Cheater to face discplinary action

Chess Kenya has officially asked its disciplinary committee to take action against Stanley Omondi who is accused of impersonation during last week’s Kenya Open tournament at Sarit Center.

The federation chairman Bernard Wanjala has asked the committee to summon the player and issue a verdict on the matter.

“I would like to refer the matter for disciplinary hearing and attached the player’s statement and witness account by one of the arbiters,” Wanjala request to the disciplinary committee reads.

The committee that is chaired by Dr. Victor Ngani have one week to listen to the matter and issue a verdict which may include a lengthy ban.

Omondi was disqualified on the second day of the tournament after he was caught impersonating a participant.

The University student had registered as a woman with the name Millicent Owuor to take part in the women’s category.

To disguise himself, Omondi came clad in a buibui and took part until the fourth round. But this time, he had gotten victories over veteran and Kenyan Olympiad Gloria Jumba, Whitney Kibara and Ugandan national team player Shakira Ampairi.

But suspicious organisers noticed that something was strange with the player and asked him to accompany one of the organisers to a private room so that his identity could be revealed.

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While in the room, Omondi owned up that he was a man who had been attracted by the huge Sh.500,000 prize fund in the ladies category.

In a statement he wrote to organisers, the University student said: "I was caught in the act of playing in the ladies section of the Kenya Open section yet I am male. The reason was due to financial needs but I deeply regret my actions and accept all consequences.”

He was subsequently disqualified from the five day tournament and all the opponents he won against, given wins instead.