Nairobi - Gregory Konchellah, son of former 800m champion Billy Konchellah, has joined the exodus of Kenyan athletes to swap nationality by defecting to Bahrain, said Athletics Kenya's (AK) chairman on Wednesday.
Isaiah Kiplagat said he had received a letter from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which cleared Gregory Meritei Konchellah, also an 800m runner, to compete for Bahrain at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Kiplagat said the AK had written to the IAAF seeking further clarification.
"We were never consulted on the matter before the runner was cleared," said Kiplagat, a member of the IAAF Council.
"Although Konchellah has not competed for Kenya for three years as provided by the IAAF rules, his shift of allegiance is not automatic. We still have to be consulted before the deal is sealed," he said.
Some of Kenya's best runners are defecting to countries in Europe and the rich Gulf states in search of more recognition and bigger financial rewards.
More than 10 Kenyans represented different nations at the Paris world championships in August, including Stephen Cherono, running under the name of Saif Saaeed Shaheen, who won the 3 000m steeplechase for Qatar.
Kiplagat said the letter from IAAF general-secretary Istvan Gyulai - dated October 8 - was addressed to the Bahrain Athletics Federation (BAF) secretary-general, Shubber Al Wedaie, and copied to the African Athletics Confederation (AAC) and the Asian Athletics Confederation.
"It is wrong to be ambushed on such an important issue, whereas we are in charge of athletics in the country. We did not discuss it at the AK executive committee and we will not accept to be ambushed.
"We should be told the criteria used to clear the athlete," he said.
Two other athletes - Abel Cheruiyot and Leonard Mucheru - who have also sought a move to Bahrain, are yet to be cleared, he said.