Kenya: Olympics athletics manager condemned to 28 days in detention

Kenya’s Olympics athletics manager Michael Rotich has been condemned to 28 days in detention by a local court, after he was recalled home from the Rio Games, following allegations he was asking for cash in return for warning athletes before drug tests.

Court orders #Kenya Olympic athletics team manager #MichaelRotich be detained for 28 days to allow probe pic.twitter.com/nRTgPQZZp1

— Radio Citizen (@RadioCitizenFM) August 10, 2016

Rotich was filmed by undercover journalists working for a German television channel ARD and the Sunday Times British newspaper demanding for some 13,000 USD for agreeing to warn a British coach about imminent doping tests.

Did Kenya's Olympics manager demand for anti-doping bribes? https://t.co/PDe5Slgy1D pic.twitter.com/QvJiABUrod

— Football Planet (@AfricanewsSport) August 11, 2016

Rotich has denied the accusations.

Presiding over the case Magistrate Stella Njagi ruled: “Because issues raised against the suspect are sensitive and complex and investigations cover both within the country and abroad, I grant the prosecution request to detain him at Gigiri Police Station for 28 days.”

The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) had confirmed on Monday that they would open legal proceedings against Rotich. These latest developments pose a potential blow to the Kenyan team in Rio, as athletes warm up to hit the tracks starting Friday.

Kenya has a history of middle and long-distance athletics excellence, but the country’s sporting reputation has been tainted by failed doping tests of up to 40 Kenyan runners in the past four years.