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Athletics Kenya to take legal action against bribe allegation

Xinhua, February 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Athletics Kenya will take legal action against the two athletes banned at the Beijing World Championships who accused the federation of demanding money to hand them leaner suspensions.

This comes after World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said it was 'extremely troubled' by the revelation by the athletes Joy Sakari and Francisca Koki Manunga that federation CEO Isaac Mwangi asked each for 24,000 U.S. dollars to reduce the four-year bans. Mwangi has since dismissed the claims as a joke.

"The allegations are serious, malicious and aimed at maligning the character of individuals as well as those of the National Federation. Athletics Kenya has demonstrated by recent happenings that it takes matters of doping seriously," Mwangi said on Thursday in Nairobi.

The federation believes the athletes did not follow the right procedure after they refused to appeal their cases.

"Athletes and individuals making malicious claims must take responsibility of their actions. This matter will be pursued through the relevant legal channels to ensure that it is dealt with expeditiously," Mwangi said.

Mwangi said the two athletes confessed to having taken banned substance when their hearing was done and they did not complain of having been approached by any officer of the Federation.

"The hearings were conducted in accordance with the rules, the process by itself is beyond any individual manipulation and the claims are not only spurious but also farfetched," he added. Endit