NAIROBI, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Pressure is mounting on Athletics Kenya officials to answer to charges on how 36 locals were cleared to compete for other nations at the Rio Olympics.
This comes as Kenya's Olympic committee officials are facing questions from the country's Criminal Investigation department of the police on their role in the scam.
Two-time Boston Marathon winner, Moses Tanui, in an interview in Nairobi said anyone moving abroad to compete for a different country must get clearance from AK.
However, if there is any objection, then they have to wait for three years for them to compete. However, with 36 runners cleared in Rio, Tanui believes somebody is cashing in on the desperate athletes and exploiting them.
"It is happening at an alarming rate. Somebody somewhere is signing them out without any consideration. There are many more unknown stars in Kenya who could end up surprising us in other national colors if we don't take control of what I call 'human trafficking'," he said.
Ruth Jebet of Bahrain raised a storm when she won gold for her adopted country in Rio Olympics in the women 3,000m steeplechase race.
There is also Eunice Kirwa, who won the women marathon silver for Bahrain at Rio 2016 while Paul Kipkemoi Chelimo took the men 5000m silver for the USA.
"It is good for them to win, irrespective of the country they are running for. But what we are keen to look is the controversy surrounding their departures. How are these deals reached for them to represent their current nation," posed Tanui.
Already the late AK president Isaiah Kiplagat had been on the receiving end after he entered a deal with Qatar that saw the transfer of Saif Saeed Shaheen (Stephen Cherono) in 2003 and was given some kickbacks in return.
The late Kiplagat, together with suspended vice chairman David Okeyo and treasurer Joseph Kinyua are under the IAAF Ethics Committee watch for their involvement in the kit deal that saw Nike secure a 10-year deal to supply the country at the expense of Chinese apparel Li-Ning.
Bahrain's Asian steeplechase record holder and world junior champion Ruth Chebet will be on the look out to surprise the Kenyans.
Others are Abraham Rotich (800 meters), Benson Theuri (1,500m); John Koech (3,000m steeplechase); Albert Rop (5,000m), Ruth Jebet (3,000m steeplechase) and marathoners Rose Chelimo, Eunice Kirwa and Eunice Chumba. They will all wear Bahrain colors.
Other countries that had athletes in Rio alongise Bahrain and Qatar are Azerbaijan, Turkey, USA, Canada, France and Israel.
The trend was set by Wilson Kipketer (Denmark) and Lorna Kiplagat (Netherlands) who pioneered the switch and made a name for their adopted country.
Ironically, majority of these athletes live, train and stay in Kenya and only go to Europe or USA when there are competitions.
ANKARA Nick Van Exel Lakers Jersey , June 18 (Xinhua) -- Galatasaray will strike the last game of the Turkish Basketball League finals against Fenerbahce on June 19 following a unanimous decision of the club board Michael Cooper Lakers Jersey , local Daily News reported Wednesday.
The decision came hours after the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) announced Fenerbahce was fined 40 Magic Johnson Lakers Jersey ,000 Turkish Liras for incidents in the fifth game of the Turkish Basketball League finals series at the Ulker Arena.
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Galatasaray beat Fenerbahce 85-77 on June 16 to tie the series at 3-3 Kurt Rambis Lakers Jersey , and the last game is scheduled to be played at Fenerbace's court on June 19.
Only women accompanied by children younger than 14-years-old were allowed to watch June 16's game at the Abdi Ipekci Arena due to a ban imposed on Galatasaray by the TBF for fan trouble.
Speaking after game Kobe Bryant Lakers Jersey , Galatasaray coach Ergin Ataman claimed his life would be at risk at the Ulker Arena.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Santos coach Dorival Junior has confirmed the Brazilian club could make a bid to sign Manchester United and Germany international midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Speaking after his team's 2-0 defeat to Flamengo in Brazil's Serie A championship on Sunday, Dorival said he requested the club pursue the World Cup winner during a meeting with the Santos board.
"I told them [the board] that we should try to get a big name in world football, or at least send an invitation," Dorival told reporters at the Maracana stadium. "It was just a recommendation. It would be like Botafogo's signing of Clarence Seedorf [in 2012]. It won't hurt us to try."
Schweinsteiger, 32, has fallen out of favor at Manchester United since the arrival of Jose Mourinho as manager in July.
Media reports have indicated the former Bayern Munich star could leave Old Trafford during the next European transfer window in January.
"We didn't only speak about Schweinsteiger but other players too," Dorival said. "A player like that can obviously lift the level of the team, but he has to come with an objective and an appetite."
Some of the biggest names in Brazilian football have represented Santos, though the club has never signed a foreign player of Schweinsteiger's standing.
Santos' list of former players include three-time World Cup winner Pele as well as modern-day forwards Robinho and Neymar.