Banned Kenya athletes allege doping bribery
400-metre runner Joy Sakari and hurdler Koki Manunga, both suspended for four years, say the country’s track and field chief asked them each for a US24,000 bribe to reduce their penalties
Two Kenyan athletes serving four-year bans 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 US$24,000 bribe to reduce their suspensions.
Joy Sakari and Francisca Koki Manunga said Isaac Mwangi asked for the payment in an October 16 meeting, but that they could not raise the money.
He asked us if we could give him something. That’s what he said. He asked for money
They were then were informed of their four-year bans in a November 27 email, but never filed a criminal complaint because, they say, they had no proof to back up their bribery accusation and also feared repercussions.
Mwangi dismissed the allegation as “just a joke”, denying ever meeting privately with the athletes and said Athletics Kenya has no power to shave time off athletes’ bans.
Mwangi said: “We have heard stories, athletes coming and saying, ‘Oh, you know, I was asked for money’. But can you really substantiate that?”
