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Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead in Kenya, police said Sunday. It has been reported that he had been stabbed to death.
The 34-year-old Kenyan-born represented Uganda in the 3,000-metre steeplechase internationally multiple times. He was a three-time Olympian and six-time World Championships competitor.
World Athletics is shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Benjamin Kiplagat. We send our deepest condolences to his friends, family, teammates and fellow athletes. Our thoughts are with them all at this difficult time. https://t.co/x74j5xRvex pic.twitter.com/XvW8k5Gwss
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) December 31, 2023
Kiplagat’s body was discovered in his brother’s car Saturday evening outside of Eldoret, an area home to many internationally competitive athletes.
“An investigation has been launched and officers are on the ground pursuing leads,” local police commander Stephen Okal told reporters in Eldoret.
“This was murder, but we do not know the motive for now,” Okal added.
Athletics Kenya official Barnabas Korir commented on his death.
“We urge the police to speed up investigations and book his killers,” Korir said.
Kiplagat set the Ugandan national record in the 3000msc in 2010 in Switzerland clocking an 8:03.81 performance. He was a six-time national champion and earned a bronze medal during the 2012 African Championships.
