Athletics Kenya Nairobi chairman Barnaba Korir has responded to allegations by former world marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang that he set him up so that he can be banned.
Kipsang, the former Olympic games marathon bronze medalist on Saturday accused Korir and Athletics Kenya for colluding with Athletics Integrity Unit officials to fix him.
The 2013 Berlin Marathon champion with. World record of 2:2.23 was handed four years ban after violating anti doping rules on Whereabouts.
But Korir responded saying the allegations are baseless and Kipsang needs assistance and guidance at this hard times.
“Kipsang is a good athlete, admired and respected by many people across the world and accusing me for befell him. As good as he is, breaking the world marathon record and now facing such challenges, he needs help,” said Korir the Youth Development executive chairman.
He also defended the allegations that he went to school with come AIU officials who purpotetly fixed him.
“The said officials I don’t know them at the personal level and what I know is that they are very young and an too old to have schooled with them,” said Korir.
He also defended his move to cushion young athletes from North Eastern, the probable for the postponed world under 20 championships.
Social media on Friday was flooded with accusations that there are no athletes in the region, which he denied.
“Athletics Kenya is a federation for all kenyans. The athletes who competed at the national level represented the region,” he defended.