Athletics administrators in Kenya have been accused of using the sport as cash cow for self-enrichment.
Former World marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang said Athletics Kenya (AK) officials were not committed and passionate about the sport and were just interested in making a kill out athletics.
Kipsang who is Professional Association of Athletics in Kenya (PAAK) said the current crop of AK leaders lacked commitment, skills and experience of running the sport.
He said the officials managing athletics don’t have knowledge as most of them have never been athletes in their entire lives but instead used AK as an avenue of minting money at the expense of athletes.
“How do you expect such like officials to bring the desired changes and policies with the much needed impetus that will support in taking sport to another level if they don’t have the interests of athletics in the country?” posed Kipsang.
Kipsang said there is no rule of law in the running of athletics as the current office has flouted the Sports Act.
“Athletics Kenya has not complied with the Sports Act which was enacted in 2014. If they can’t comply with the law and are managing a sport that brings glory to the country, that shows they don’t care about athletics but their self-personal interests.
He said the Athletics Kenya constitution is outdated and doesn’t meet the Kenya’s Constitutional and Sports Act threshold but the office bearers want to continue having it in operation because it suits their personal interests in making money and continued and uninterrupted stay in office.
Kipsang said abroad many countries athletics is managed by athletes because of their hands on experience in the sport where it is managed well.
“In Kenya we have many accomplished athletes but the federation and government is not making good use of them to contribute in promoting the sport and that’s why athletics has gone to dogs,” he said.
Kipsang said Kenya’s performance has gone down in the past recent years due to bad leadership and the current executive failing to put in place structures of nurturing talent.
The two times London marathon champion predicted that Kenya’s dominance may come to an end in the next five years if athletes are isolated from the management of the sport.
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