The Kenyan government on Wednesday called for top officials in its athletics federation to step down after athletes stormed Athletics Kenya (AK) headquarters in Nairobi in protest over corruption and feeble efforts to tackle doping.
The East African country boasts some of the world’s finest middle and long-distance runners but in recent years has been shaken by a spate of failed drug tests undergone by athletes.
AK officials have denied embezzling funds relating to a sponsorship deal with U.S. sports giant Nike, and say Kenya is doing its best to root out drug cheats despite limited resources.
A group of athletes swooped on the AK headquarters on Monday morning, ordering staff to leave and barricading themselves inside until Tuesday evening.
The stand-off ended after athletes met with government officials.
In a joint statement with athletes, Richard Ekai, the top civil servant in the sports ministry, called for “any AK officials mentioned … or being investigated for corruption to step aside to allow for further full and conclusive investigation to be done.”
Long-serving AK President Isaiah Kiplagat, Vice President David Okeyo and former AK treasurer Joseph Kinyua were questioned earlier this year by the police over the Nike sponsorship funds and their files were forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for further action.