Report: Athletics Kenya and Nike involved in criminal investigation

The vice-president of Athletics Kenya, David Okeyo, and two other officials reportedly siphoned $700,000 from a sponsorship deal between Nike and Kenya’s governing body for athletics.

The IAAF Ethics Commission is investigating the alleged embezzlement following a report released by The Sunday Times, which also named Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat and Joseph Kinyua, the former federation treasurer.

The IAAF responded to the allegations by stating, “The IAAF was not aware of the investigation into Mr. Okeyo in Kenya and the information has immediately been passed on to the independent IAAF Ethics Commission.”

Okeyo, who was on the council that banned Russia from international competition over concerns of country-wide doping, has since denied the report.

In a similar case, Kenyan athletics is involved in a criminal investigation after reports surfaced that three marathon runners paid bribes to the country’s governing body in exchange for reduced doping bans.

Kenyan coach Paul Simbolei went to authorities regarding the doping allegations and told The Associated Press he has been receiving threats since going to the police.

The news comes one week after the World Anti-Doping Agency released a report on doping in track and field.