Athletics Kenya chairman and former IAAF Council member accused of accepting two cars as gift from Qatar
By Nick Butler
Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat has been accused of accepting a gift of two motor vehicles from the Qatar Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) when Doha was successfully bidding to host the 2019 World Championships last year.
Kiplagat, also formerly a member of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Council, has been provisionally suspended by the IAAF Ethics Commission, chaired by British Queen's Counsel Michael Beloff, from any involvement in the sport.
Kenya's current IAAF Council member David Okeyo has also been suspended while an investigation continues.
Doha successfully overcame Eugene and Barcelona to be awarded the Championships by the IAAF Council last November.
Okeyo, also a vice-president of Athletics Kenya, is alleged to have siphoned off funds from a sponsorship deal between the national association and the American sportswear giant.
Kenyan police are also investigating Kiplagat over claims he covered-up doping failures.
The duo have relinquished their roles within the national and international bodies for the next 180 days, along with Joseph Kinyua, the Federation's former treasurer.
Kinyua had also been team leader of Kenya's squad at this year's IAAF World Championships in Beijing, where they finished as the leading country with a total of 16 medals, including seven gold.
Isaiah Kiplagat (left) pictured with other IAAF officials including former President Lamine Diack (centre) during the 2013 World Championships in Moscow ©Getty Images
"The chairman of the Ethics Commission has imposed these Orders for Provisional Suspension having carefully considered the complaints, evidence and information referred to the Ethics Commission, which disclose prima facie cases, i.e. cases warranting investigation, against Mr Kiplagat, Mr Okeyo and Mr Kinyua in relation to (1) potential subversion of the anti-doping control process in Kenya and (2) potential improper diversion from Athletics Kenya of funds received from Nike," a statement said.
"A prima facie case has also been found to exist in respect of Mr Kiplagat in relation to receipt, personally or by Athletics Kenya, of an apparent gift of two motor vehicles from the Qatar Association of Athletics Federation in the period 2014 to 2015.
"The Ethics Commission stresses that the imposition of Orders for Provisional Suspension in this case in no way prejudges the outcome of the investigation which will now be carried out by the Commission's appointed investigator, Mr Sharad Rao.
"Mr Kiplagat, Mr Okeyo and Mr Kinyua remain presumed innocent until the outcome of the investigation and the determination of any disciplinary chargeswhich may follow from that investigation."
Rao, is a former Director of Public Prosecutions in Kenya and the current chairman of the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board, to head the investigation.
Rao is also a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport and of the Code of Conduct Commission of the International Cricket Council.
Kenya's former Director of Public Prosecutions Sharad Rao (left) has been appointed by IAAF Ethics Commission chairman Michael Beloff (right) to investigate claims of corruption against three officials in his home country ©Getty Images
The decision comes a week after Kenyan athletes carried-out a two-day occupation of the Athletics Kenya building at Riadha House to protest against allegations of corruption.
The sit-in was ended only by the intervention of the Kenyan Sports Ministry.
They asked both Kiplagat and Okeyo to step-aside while a full investigation is carried out.
"We have had a fruitful discussion with the AK official and the athletes' representatives and accepted that the only way forward was to resolve the issue," said Sports Ministry official Richard Ekai.
More than 60 athletes were reportedly involved, including 400 metres hurdles world champion Nicholas Bett and London and New York City Marathon winner Wilson Kipsang, the former world record holder who heads the Professional Athletes Association of Kenya.
Concerns are also growing over high levels of doping in Kenya following the World Anti-Doping Agency Independent Commission report's confirmation of "systemic doping" within Russian athletics earlier this month.
Double world cross country champion and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Emily Chebet was among seven Kenyan athletes banned last week for failing tests.
The IAAF announcement today follows changes to the Procedural Rules and the Statutes of the IAAF Ethics Commission which were approved by the Council during their meeting last week in Monte Carlo.
Under the changes, the number of Commission members and legal secretaries will be increased from seven to nine members and one to two secretaries.
Investigations are no longer restricted to complaints filed by a member of the "IAAF Family", with the Commission able to initiate an investigation if reliable information comes to its attention from any other source.
The disciplinary process under the Code may be streamlined in appropriate cases, for example, if there is no dispute on the facts.
Provisional suspensions can also be awarded much earlier in the process "pending the conclusion of an investigation or decision of a Panel of the Commission".
November 2015: Coe suggests Kenyan IAAF Council member accused of corruption could be suspended next week
November 2015: Two-time world cross country champion among seven Kenyan athletes banned for doping
November 2015: Athletics Kenya agree to increase athletes' representation as two-day protest ends
November 2015: Kenyan athletes storm headquarters in protest at alleged corruption
November 2015: Kenyan doping "concerning" for all athletes competing in endurance athletics events, claims Pound
Nick Butler Senior Reporter
Follow @nickjmbutler
Since joining insidethegames.biz in 2013, Butler has travelled to a variety of major global sporting events, including the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as well as the most recent editions of the Asian, European and Pan American Games in Incheon, Baku and Toronto. He has also attended the last four International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sessions and has particularly enjoyed tackling the politics and diplomacy of the Olympic Movement.
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