By Isa Omok
Nairobi - Kenyan track athletes are still defecting to oil-rich Gulf nations in search of money, better training facilities and the opportunity to compete at an Olympic Games or World Championships.
One of the latest examples, according to Athletics Kenya chairperson Isaiah Kiplagat, is Wesley Cheruiyot who was selected to run the 1 500m at the World Youth Championships in Marrakesh in July.
Kiplagat said Cheruiyot had feigned sickness in order not to run.
"Running would have complicated his plans to defect to Bahrain where his neighbour Dennis Kipkurui is leading him to," Kiplagat told reporters. Cheruiyot was not available for comment.
Kenyan athletes cite stiff competition for national team slots as one reason for their defections.
Most athletes who leave do so because they find it much easier to get into their adopted nations' World Championships and Olympic teams.
Others are lured by lucrative offers and better training opportunities while some mention lack of recognition by the federation and the government.
Kipkurui, renamed Taher Tareq Mubarak, and Ali Belal Mansoor, formerly John Yego, are under International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) investigations for cheating on their ages to represent Bahrain in Marrakesh where they won gold medals in the 2 000m steeplechase and the 1 500m respectively.
Paul Kimugul, who won the Berlin half-marathon in the second fastest performance of the year, has confirmed that he was approached by a Qatar agent early this year to drop his Kenyan passport.
"I told him off as I can't countenance changing my nationality. I will remain a Kenyan for ever," he said.
Up to 40 Kenyans have recently changed nationality to Qatar and Bahrain.
The most prominent are the world 3 000m steeplechase champion and record holder Saif Saaeed Shaheen, formerly Stephen Cherono.
Also among the defectors is Yusuf Saad Kamel, formerly Gregory Meritei Konchellah, the son of twice world 800m champion Billy Konchellah.
Kamel will represent Bahrain in the Helsinki world championships starting on Saturday.
Shaheen will receive a monthly stipend of $5 000 (about R35 000) for the rest of his life and $250 000 (about R2-million) if he wins a world or Olympic medal. The Qatar federation meets their training expenses in Kenya where they live in five-star hotels for up to five months a year besides flying business class and commuting in chauffeured tour vans.
According to Kiplagat, Cheruiyot was trying to circumvent eligibility rules, which require that an athlete must not have run for his former country for three years to qualify to represent his adopted nation.
"But all this will soon change because IAAF rules will require that a defecting athlete must have lived in his adopted nation for three years," said Kiplagat.
Kiplagat said Mansoor took Cheruiyot aside and told him not to run because that would spoil his chances of defection.
The runner, Kiplagat said, was already talking with Bahrain officials.
"Cheruiyot waited until the last minute and without the knowledge of the coach decided not to run," said Kiplagat.
Kiplagat, who was in Marrakesh as an IAAF Council member, said he was surprised to see only Leonard Kibet in the 1 500m. Kibet finished fourth.
"I rushed to find out what had happened only to be told that the runner had pulled out due to alleged sickness," he added.