Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto freed on bond after denying rape charges

Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto was on Monday freed on Sh200,000 bond by a Kapsabet court after pleading not guilty to rape charges.

Kipruto, 25, has been accused of defiling a 15-year-old girl. The age of consent in Kenya is 18.

The case will be heard in May 2021, two months before he is scheduled to defend his Olympic title in Tokyo.

Kipruto won gold in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase at the 2016 Olympic Games held in China, and replicated the fete at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships held in London and Doha respectively.

Over time he’s cut his niche as Kenya’s go-to man on this race specialty, seamlessly taking the mantle from Ezekiel Kemboi.

Additional reporting by BBC