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A Kenyan publication named The Nation, reports that 26-year-old athlete Kipyegon Bett died in hospital on Sunday.
Apparently, there was damage to his liver and multiple organs. He spent several days in hospital due to feeling unwell and vomiting up blood. He was admitted twice in a short period of time.
sad news alert: just learnt that 2017 World Championships Bronze and 2016 Under 20 champion Kipyegon Bett is no more. He left us today after multiple organ failures. Rest in peace Bett đŸ˜đŸ˜đŸ˜đŸ˜. @WorldAthletics #TeamKenya pic.twitter.com/lLHGFj88Yq
— Charity Wanja (@CMuturi) October 6, 2024
His sister, a 3000m steeplechase specialist, Purity Kirui, confirmed Bett’s death. Barnaba Korir, Athletics Kenya’s director in charge of youth and development made the call to Kirui when she confirmed the outcome.
He was the 2017 U20 World Champion in the 800-metre event.
Bett was banned for doping due to testing positive for EPO, the blood-boosting performance-enhancing drug. He made a comeback in 2022.
Bett owns a personal best of 1:43.76 from 2016, before the major growth in super shoe usage.
A spate of bad news from Kenya
There has been a spate of bad news in the athletics community in Kenya recently. The death happened just days after Emmaculate Anyango Achol, the second-fastest 10K runner in history, was banned for doping. She was caught testing positive for testosterone and EPO. Anyango is only the second athlete ever to clock a sub-29 minute 10K, going 28:57 last year in Valencia.
Rebecca Cheptegei died in hospital due to burns she suffered during a domestic dispute with her husband, who doused her with gasoline, then lit her on fire. He also died.
Twenty-one-year-old Faith Chepkoech was banned for doping. The 10,000m and 10K specialists tested positive for EPO. There is a continual stream of doping positives coming out of Kenya.
