Kenyan World Champion Athlete Dies After Battle With Liver Disease, Family Recounts Last Moments
Another Kenyan athlete, Kipyegon Bett, died on Sunday midday while being treated for an illness at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet County.
The 2016 World U20 800m champion became ill about a month ago and was admitted to the hospital last Monday. He was 26 years old.
According to his sister Purity Kirui, the athlete was previously ill and was admitted to AIC Litein Hospital as an outpatient before deteriorating and being transferred to Tenwek Hospital, where he died.
“He has been unwell for about a month and was treated at AIC Litein Hospital as an outpatient. On Saturday his condition deteriorated and was referred to Tenwek Hospital for further tests,” Kirui told Nation.
Kipyegon Bett, who was world U20 800m champion in 2016 and then claimed a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships, has passed away at 26.
— Tim Adams (@TimAdams76) October 7, 2024
Only raced once (in 2022) since he was banned for four years for EPO in 2018. https://t.co/UsxCnfS9Hw
Kirui, who won gold in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, revealed that his brother’s condition had deteriorated.
The family was prompted to seek additional medical attention in order to save his life.
Barnaba Korir, Athletics Kenya’s Director in Charge of Youth and Development, who has been in contact with the family, confirmed his death.
The athlete reportedly had some issues prior to his death, including vomiting blood for some time due to damage to his liver and other internal organs.
Bett made athletics history when he won the bronze medal in the men’s 800m race at the 2017 World Athletics Championships.
Former World U20 Champion and 2017 World Bronze medalist, Kipyegon Bett, has passed away at 26.
— Eagle News Feed (@eagle_feed) October 7, 2024
Bett died at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet County after battling illness for some time.
He had an impressive career from 2015-2017 before a ban in 2018.
His sister confirmed he passed at… pic.twitter.com/5ONWW2gdU2
He also won a silver medal in the 800m race at the 2017 World Athletics Relay Championships, demonstrating his continued optimism about his chances in the 800m race.
However, the athlete’s journey was cut short when he was banned from athletics and his career was jeopardised after being accused of doping and banned for four years in 2018 for using doping substances.
The first charge was for violating anti-doping rules. However, the athlete accused his management company of being involved in a scheme to throw him under the bus.
He also stated that he missed a sporting event and that his management was aware of his participation in another event but did not notify the organizers of his prior commitment.
“There was another case about missing a disc of which my management did not update my whereabouts as I was in Eugene and Stockholm, so I am seeing that something is going on that I don’t know,” he stated in an interview with CGTN 6 years ago.
However, the accused company denied the allegations, claiming that the athlete was solely responsible for the difficulties he faced.
“This information is known by the athlete and they have to stick to that as they cannot turn around and start to blame everybody as it’s their responsibility as a person which they cannot turn to blame on anybody,” the company rebutted at the time.
Soon after, the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) accused Bett of violating the rules by refusing to provide bodily samples for testing purposes. He was accused of missing tests several times.
“The only test that I missed was that where a guy came alone and according to Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) rules,” Bett told the media.
“There is no way one person can come to test you. So I did not refuse but asked them to come with a witness who would, in the event of any oddity, justify the accusations.”
He was later charged with a more serious doping case in which he allegedly injected himself with erythropoietin (EPO), a high-performance-enhancing substance that is prohibited by international sporting bodies.
ALSO READ:
- “Don’t Attack Public Infrastructure!” – IG Kanja Asks Kenyans, Issues Orders To Police
- “NO MORE NIL TAX RETURNS!” – KRA Tells Kenyans, Introduces New Changes
- Eliud Owalo Blasts Ruto Gov’t, Demands EACC & DCI Investigations Into Fake Sugar Scandal
- President’s Office Releases 2026 National Holidays Calendar, Names Host Counties
- Kenya Goes After British Oil Giant Over Hundreds Of Deaths In The North
He revealed an inside plot involving his management after they asked him to accept the accusations despite the fact that he was clean and had not used any harmful substances.
He also stated that accepting the accusations would land him in hot water, and when he refused, the ban was imposed, effectively paralyzing his career.
“My management tells me that I should accept the accusations and admit that I used the doping substances and yet I know myself and that I did not use anything,” he responded.
He returned to the track in 2022 and competed in the 400m hurdles at the Kenya Track Meeting, finishing third.
Kenyan World Champion Athlete Dies After Battle With Liver Disease, Family Recounts Last Moments
