© Courtesy
© Courtesy

Asbel Kiprop set for second AK meet

Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 04.01.24. | 22:25

Kiprop became the first Kenyan to win the 1500m gold at the world championships in Daegu, South Korea in 2011

Kenya's former Olympic and three-time world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop is looking to leave a mark when he lines up for the 800m at the second Athletics Kenya (AK) track and field meet slated for 5 and 6 January.

Kiprop, 34, was suspended in April 2019 for the presence of the blood-boosting drug EPO but he has always protested his innocence. He completed his ban in early 2022 but his return to track running has been slow.

Over 1200 athletes have registered for the two-day meet, set to be hosted at Ulinzi Sports Complex, that serves as part of the federation’s ‘Road to Paris’ plan. Invitations to subsequent meets that will count towards an athlete’s inclusion in the Olympics trials will be pegged on their participation this weekend.

"I was falsely accused of doping. But I have accepted my fate, served my time and now I am ready to return to the track," he told AFP after serving his ban and was preparing for a return.

Kiprop became the first Kenyan to win the 1500m gold at the world championships in Daegu, South Korea in 2011.

He went to win two more world titles in 2013 and 2015 to add to the 2008 Olympic gold medal he was awarded after the original winner, Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain, tested positive for doping.

Kiprop, a police chief inspector, was set to make his domestic return at the Kenyan police track and field championships in Nairobi on April 6 2022, seeking selection for the national championships and the world athletics trials but he was a no-show.

He has since competed in several road races but is set to skip the 1500m and instead compete in the 800m, which was his initial event as a junior athlete.



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Asbel KipropAthletics Kenya

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