TWO KENYAN ATHLETES banned for doping at the 2015 world championships say the chief executive of Athletics Kenya, the country’s governing body for track and field, asked them each for a $24,000 (€21,480) bribe to reduce their suspensions.
Joy Sakari and Francisca Koki Manunga have told The Associated Press that CEO Isaac Mwangi asked for the payment in a meeting on 16 October 2015. They said they could not raise the money. They were banned until 2019.
Mwangi is denying the allegation as “just a joke” and says he never met the athletes privately.
The runners say they would be willing to testify to the IAAF ethics commission that is investigating alleged corruption at Athletics Kenya.
The lead investigator, Sharad Rao, says their decision to come forward could be “very, very significant.”
Athletics in Kenya has been mired in controversy over the last few years with a number of high-profile doping scandals enveloping the sport.
Two-time Chicago marathon winner Rita Jeptoo is among the athletes banned for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. Her two-year ban finishes in October of this year.
Other athletes to be banned in recent years include Agnes Jepkosgei, Bernard Mwendia, and Lilian Moraa Marita.
Additional reporting from Steve O’Rourke.
