Kenya Names Interim Federation Chief Amid Graft Probe

In the latest hammer-blow to global track and field, the IAAF ethics commission on Monday announced the provisional suspension of the Kenyan athletics federation president and two other top officials in the "interests of the integrity of the sport" ©Tony Karumba (AFP)

Athletics Kenya on Tuesday named former army chief Jackson Tuwei as the new temporary president to replace Isaiah Kiplagat, a day after he was suspended with two other officials by the IAAF ethics commission. Kiplagat, who led the national athletics federation for more than 20 years, was suspended along with his vice-president David Okeyo and former treasurer Joseph Kinyua over suspicions they had siphoned off sponsorship money from Nike and subverted anti-doping controls.

AFP report continues:

The nomination of Tuwei was reached at an AK executive committee meeting on Tuesday, which said they had accepted the decision taken by the IAAF ethics commission to suspend the three administrators.

"The three members shall remain suspended for the said period of 180 days, as directed by the IAAF ethics commission, to allow for investigations," AK said in a statement, promising to cooperate with the investigating officials.

"Given that the AK president has been suspended by IAAF ethics commission, the meeting has ratified the earlier decision and confirmed Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Kiprono Tuwei as the President of Athletics Kenya," with immediate effect, it added.

They said the duties of Okeyo, who was also suspended from his position as an IAAF Council member and served as director in charge of competitions, would be assigned to another member of the executive committee.

"The suspended members will vacate their offices accordingly, and will immediately cease to perform their duties in the offices they were elected and/or appointed as per the directives by IAAF ethics commission and in line with the AK constitution," AK added.

The IAAF ethics commission appointed Sharad Rao, a former Director of Public Prosecutions in Kenya, to investigate the charges against the three officials.