Kibet’s dream goes up in smoke

World marathon champion Luke Kibet has been forced to pull out of next weekend’s London Grand Prix set after Athletics Kenya banned his agent from representing Kenyan athletes at international events.

“I had planned for London and maybe wait for Berlin World Championship or the Singapore Marathon, but this development has thrown me off course. Now I have to start afresh,” said the Eldoret-based Kibet.

German Volker Wagner, who represents 74 Kenyan athletes, entered Sammy Kitwara in a 10km road race in Atlanta against AK’s directive, making the athlete to be dropped from the 10,000m race in Berlin.

Loroupe affected
World 10,000m bronze medallist Tegla Loroupe is also among the athletes affected by AK’s action.

“Wagner stands banned,” said AK chairman Isaiah Kiplagat.

Gianni Demadonna however got a reprieve even after pleading guilty of entering World Junior 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Elizabeth Mueni in a grand prix race in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Italian was found not to have entered Japan-based Gideon Ngatuny in a half marathon race in Saparro, Japan.

Ricky Simms escaped with a warning for entering Vivian Cheruiyot in a race in Rome, where she ran against Meseret Defar.

Dream blown up
Ngatuny and Kitwara’s dreams of battling Ethiopian icon Kenenisa Bekele, the world and Olympic champion, in 10,000m were blown up as AK named Moses Masai, fourth in Beijing, and Micah Kogo, the Olympics bronze medallist, as their replacements, in addition to Bernard Kipyegon.

AK has also give local coaches attached to the athletes, David Kosgei of Kaptanden Athletics Club and Gregory Kilonzo of Hidden Talent Academy, seven days to explain why they sneaked young athletes Hilda Kibet and Elizabeth Mueni in foreign championships.