World and Olympic champion to be arrested for assault

Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop, an Olympic champion over 1500m in 2008, is set to be charged and arrested after allegedly beating up a night guard and brandishing a pistol at a local bar in Iten, Kenya, with four other men. He is expected to be charged in court with assault, a police chief has said.

The two-time world champion is said to have forced his way into a bar after hours, threatening guards with a weapon, and demanded to be served alcohol, The People, a Kenyan newspaper, reports. When the bar would not serve them, Kiprop and four other men dragged the guard to the door, butted him with a pistol, and beat him.

Kiprop is also a police officer himself in Kenya. Many Kenyan athletes are affiliated with public services because they are allowed a place to live and train.

“Kiprop punched me several times on the mouth and kicked me on my private parts saying that he is a police inspector and cannot be questioned by anyone or taken anywhere,” the guard told The People from hospital where he is recovering from a jaw injury and swollen eye.

The 1500m runner also is said to have threatened of the bar’s manager with his gun after he asked why they beat up the security guard.

According to The People, Kiprop has gained a reputation in Iten as an alcoholic with a flashy lifestyle. Only a month ago he is said to have threatened to shoot a man if he crossed him.