Top athletes yesterday received a
rude shock when they were turned
away from training at the Moi University
School of Law track.
Moi University management insisted
that they either pay for the
training services at the track or forget
the deal all together.
Former Commonwealth Games
champion Silas Kiplagat, former
world 800m champion Alfred Kirwa
and world 800m bronze medallist
Eunice Sum were among over the
over 70 athletes, who were denied
access to the facility.
Olympics 5,000m champion
Vivian Cheruiyot, multiple world
3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel
Kemboi, world 1,500m champion
Asbel Kiprop, former world cross
country champion Joseph Ebuya are
some of the notable names, who use
the track as their training ground.
The athletes said they were
shocked when the security guards
manning the gate denied them entry,
saying that they are only effecting
orders from above that no athlete
should train at the facility.
“We came here in the morning and
when we tried accessing the training
ground, the guards chased us away,
saying they have orders from the
Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Nathan
Ongechi that we either pay or keep
off,” said Kirwa.
He said they had agreed with the
management to have them train at
the facility thrice a week after presenting
a request.
“We had an agreement and they
have the list of athletes who normally
train there. We are surprised with
the new turn of events,” said Kirwa,
who won 800m bronze medal at the
2008 Olympic Games.
Sum, who is also the 2013 world
800m champion, said they can afford
to pay for the training but there
are hundreds of athletes who can’t’
afford to pay for the service.
Sum wondered if there are new
changes after the new management took over but questioned the legality
in paying to access a public utility.
“This is a public facility and I don’t
think we should pay to access it. We
only abide by their regulations that
we only train at the track and not to
access other areas of the university.
That is what we have been doing and
I am amazed with this kind of action,”
Sum added.
Over 500 athletes have been training
daily at the University of Eldoret
without any charges and the newly
refurbished Kipchoge Keino Stadium
has been branded a ‘white elephant’
by athletes since they are not allowed
to train at the facility.
“Imagine we
have been training for many years
at the University of Eldoret without
paying a single cent and the latest
move has taken us aback,” said
Shadrack Chirchir.
Moi University public relation officer
Alfred wandera said the council
had resolved to charge Sh100,000
per institution per year or a fee of
Sh5,000 per day. He said they will
look into the athletes’ grievances.