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Credit to LetsRun.com’s Jonathan Gault for quoting from a lengthy, vitriolic excerpt from the Kenyan National Assembly on Wednesday, with congratulations to Chicago Marathon winners Ruth Chepngetich and John Korir and condemnations of questions to Chepngetich from LetsRun co-founder Robert Johnson during the post-race news conference.
Johnson asked Chepngetich, fresh off her 2:09:56 women’s world record (per Chris Chavez on X):
“Ruth, unfortunately in recent years there’s been a number of doping positives in Kenya. What would you say to someone who says when they see 2:09:56, ‘This is too good to be true. I have questions about it.”
Chepngetich: “I don’t have any idea.”
Johnson: “Some people may think that the time is too fast and you must be doping. What would you say to them?”
Chepngetich: “You know people must talk but…people must talk so I don’t know.”
On Wednesday, during a comment period at the Kenyan National Assembly in Nairobi, Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei was the first to stand and, after congratulating both winners, read a prepared statement, asking for an apology:
“Honorable Speaker I must however express my deep concern and disappointment regarding the baseless allegations made by a journalist from the LetsRun.com, namely a Mr. Robert Johnson during the post-race press conference.
“The journalist’s reckless insinuation suggesting that Ruth Chepngetich’s world record time of 2 hours 9 minutes and 56 seconds is too good to be true and linking it to doping without evidence and is both unprofessional and disrespectful.
“Chepngetich is a highly decorated runner having previously won several marathons including the Chicago Marathon in 2021 and in 2022, and is a former world champion having won the 2019 World Championships in Doha.
“Honorable Speaker, the blanket accusations against Kenyan athletes, particularly in the light of Kenya’s long-standing reputation as a world leader in marathons are not only unfair but deeply harmful and therefore stereotyping Kenya as a nation plagued by doping. This discredits the immense talent and commitment and sacrifice of our athletes.
“Such unfounded allegations have the potential of unjustly tarnishing their hardworking achievements and creates an atmosphere of mistrust.
“Honorable Speaker, I urge the Cabinet secretary for sports Athletics Kenya and the Kenya anti-doping agency to stand up for our athletes and demand an immediate and unequivocal apology from Mr. Robert Johnson and others who have shamed our athletes and those who propagate false narratives and undermine the integrity of Athletics and our nation.
“Athletics Kenya and ADAK should also develop sensitization programs to athletes so that they are able on matters doping and publicity management so are they able to deal with these difficult questions when it is raised to them.
“I know that were it an American athlete that question would not have been posed.
“Honorable Speaker, Kenya remains steadfast in its commitment in upholding the highest standards of Integrity in sports we shall continue to collaborate with International bodies to ensure that the sports remain fair and clean for all and we I would like to request the members of Parliament to join me in celebrating our athletes and their incredible achievements and especially requesting this as Member of Parliament for Wasing Gishu County, which is the city of Champions. the home of Champions, and the source of Champions, I thank you.”
She was followed by 11 more speakers across 20 minutes, more or less on the same track, demanding an apology from Johnson, repeatedly raising the racism card, asking for legal action … and (1) ignoring the fact that Kenya has 106 individuals listed on the Athletics Integrity Unit’s “ineligible persons” list, more than any other country, and (2) that U.S. and other athletes have repeatedly been asked about doping. But some of these speakers had more to say beyond congratulating Chepngetich and Korir and criticizing Johnson, and at least hinting at the serious doping issues in Kenya:
● Julius Kipletting Rutto: “I dare also say, Mr. Speaker, through this House we need to allow our [athletes] to express themselves with the language they understand because I’ve also realized, sometimes, some of these questions come in difficult English and they find it difficult in expressing themselves.
“What is wrong for us to use our own language, Swahili? And that is the first national language that we learn from school we want to ask them let them find the interpreter so that they can interpret the way we they always interpret their language. Our language should be worshipped, should be respected, that our athletes at least are able to express very well and they be understood.”
● Elachi Beatrice Kadeveresia: “Mr. Speaker, it is time we protect our athletes it is also good for the government to give them – and Mr. Speaker it’s important – in this house we either approve a Service passport or a Diplomat passport for our athletes so that they just don’t go in a country and people are wondering and these are people who when they go to the other countries you can see even journalists are worried about them.
“But we must protect them, so if the government can also recognize them and just give them a Service passport [so] wherever they go, they know these are Kenyans who are coming to do what is best for Kenya to carry the flag of Kenya, they are ambassadors of Kenya and that will be better than any other thing.”
There were also calls for completing a regional doping center in Eldoret as soon as possible so that Kenyan athletes can have their results quickly, and for better education of financial management so they are not taken advantage of.
The unfortunate final word came from National Assembly Speaker Moses M. Wetangula, speaking to Deputy Speaker Shollei:
“I’m sure you know you can write the ministry tell the minister to take up this matter, because I see a [tinge] of racism in this. Yes, when white people win races nobody raises a question. When our girls and boys beat the world all manner of inexplicable questions are asked.”
For his part, Johnson set the record straight on the LetsRun message board:
“We have been very consistent since day 1 at LetsRun in regards to doping. Since the year 2000, we have asked the doping questions that need to be asked (and let the messageboarders discuss it as well) whether you are white (Galen Rupp, [Alberto] Salazar, etc), black (Regina Jacobs, Justin Gatlin, etc.), male, female, American or Kenyan. …
“And for the record, I didn’t accuse Chepngetich of being a doper. I simply asked her what she would say to those who think her performance is too good to be true. I gave her the opportunity to proactively get ahead of the cynics.”
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