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Kenyan athletics president steps down, new chief named

Xinhua, December 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

Disgraced Athletics Kenya (AK) president Isaiah Kiplagat on Tuesday officially stepped down from his role after he was suspended for six months following recommendations by the IAAF Ethics Commission.

Kiplagat's role as the country's track and field president has now been transferred to his deputy Jackson Tuwei, who has been serving in the acting capacity.

Speaking after the meeting of AK national executive in Nairobi, the federation said they will cooperate with the IAAF Ethics Committee and their appointed investigator Sharod Rao, a former director of public prosecutions.

"The three members -- Kiplagat, Vice President David Okeyo and former Treasurer Joseph Kinyua -- shall remain suspended for the said period as directed by the IAAF Ethics Commission," said the statement released on Monday.

"Given that the AK president has been suspended by IAAF Ethics Commission, the meeting has ratified the earlier decision and confirmed Tuwei as the president of AK with effect from Dec. 1," it said.

"The duties of Okeyo, who was previously in charge of competitions, will be assigned to another member of the Executive Committee," added the statement.

The cases come at a time when the country faces scrutiny over the spike in doping cases, with more than 40 Kenyan athletes failing tests since 2012.

Earlier this month, the IAAF suspended the Russian Track and Field Federation after a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accused the country of operating a state-sponsored doping program.

The suspension of the three comes a week after a group of Kenyan athletes occupied the federation's headquarters demanding the removal of the top officials in a protest against doping and corruption. Endit