The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Kenyans in search of greener pastures

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Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005

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Sport - Athletics

Kenyans in search of greener pastures

Oil-rich Gulf nations offer money and better training facilities for athletes

NAIROBI: Kenyan track athletes are still defecting to oil-rich Gulf nations in search of money, better training facilities and the opportunity to compete at an Olympic Games or world championships.

One of the latest examples, according to Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat, is Wesley Cheruiyot who was selected to run the 1,500 metres at the world youth championships in Marrakesh last month.

Kiplagat said Cheruiyot had feigned sickness in order not to run.

"Running would have complicated his plans to defect to Bahrain where his neighbour Dennis Kipkurui is leading him to," Kiplagat told reporters. Cheruiyot was not available for comment.

Kenyan athletes cite stiff competition for national team slots as one reason for their defections.

Most athletes who leave do so because they find it much easier to get into their adopted nations' world championships and Olympic teams. Others are lured by lucrative offers and better training opportunities while some mention lack of recognition by the federation and the government. Kipkurui, renamed Taher Tareq Mubarak, and Ali Belal Mansoor, formerly John Yego, are under International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) investigations for cheating on their ages to represent Bahrain in Marrakesh where they won gold medals in the 2,000m steeplechase and the 1,500m respectively.

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