North Rift legends slam AK over Eldoret City Marathon omission

Speaking to the press in Eldoret, the athletes, led by former 3,000m steeplechase runner Wilson Boit Kipketer, said the marathon had supported hundreds of athletes over the past seven years through its lucrative prize money.

Kipketer said more than 280 athletes had benefited from the event, adding that its omission from this year's calendar would deny many runners an important opportunity to earn money and advance their careers.

He challenged AK to explain the reasons behind the decision, arguing that personal differences and political interests should not be allowed to disadvantage athletes.

The athletes also questioned the legitimacy of AK officials' continued tenure, alleging that they had used court orders to extend their terms. They further accused some officials of conflicts of interest within the federation.

Former world champion Christopher Kosgei said the exclusion threatened the ambitions of emerging athletes from the region and questioned the criteria used to determine which races feature on the calendar.

Kosgei called on the government to intervene and address what he described as governance concerns within AK.

Eldoret City Marathon race director Moses Tanui also accused the athletics governing body of bias over the omission of the event.