Kenyan athletes furious over top agents' ban

Elite Kenyan athletes on Tuesday slammed as "malicious and personal" the national

federation's decision to suspend two top agents for six months in the run-up to the

world championships.

Athletics Kenya (AK) suspended Italian Federico Rosa and Dutchman Gerard Van De

Veen for six months pending a probe into their role in a doping scandal which has

engulfed the sport.

The decision prevents the agents from working with athletes for the duration of the

ban, which will limit their accessibility ahead of the world athletics

championships in Beijing from August 22-30.

"We do not recognise the decision taken by the AK to ban the agents. This is an

extreme act that threatens to cause shock to the epicentre of athletics in Kenya,"

the athletes said in a statement read on their behalf by former world marathon

record holder Wilson Kipsang in the northwestern town of Eldoret.

"The suspension has disrupted the concentration of athletes in their training

programmes and competitions, and puts the image of Kenya into question ahead of the

World Relays, Diamond League series and the World championships."

Outgoing AK chairman Isaiah Kiplagat said the association would appoint a manager

to handle the affairs of concerned athletes in the IAAF world championship and

Diamond Leagues before investigations are completed.

But the athletes said they will still honour their contracts with the suspended

agents.

"Our contracts are still valid and will remain valid. If AK cannot manage 20

athletes in a national team, how will they manage 250 from Volare and Dr Rosa," he

said

Kipsang was accompanied by current world marathon champion Dennis Kimetto and two-

time New York marathon winner Geoffrey Mutai, who are all represented by Van de

Veen, through his Volare Sports management company.

Kipsang, Kimetto and Mutai are among a high-powered Kenyan team set to compete in

the London marathon on April 26.

Others notable athletes who attended the meeting included Asbel Kiprop, the Beijing

Olympic 1500m gold medallist, who is managed by the Rosa Associati company.

Kiprop, who is also the two-time world champion, is expected to lead other Kenyan

athletes to the season-opening Diamond League meeting in Doha on May 15.
Source: AFP