Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died at a Kenyan clinic the place she was once being handled after 80 according to cent of her frame was once burned in an assault by means of her spouse. She was once 33.
A spokesperson at Moi Instructing and Referral Health facility in Eldoret town, Owen Menach, showed Cheptegei’s dying on Thursday. Menach stated the long-distance runner died early within the morning after her organs failed. She were totally sedated on admission on the clinic.
Cheptegei competed within the girls’s marathon on the Paris Olympics lower than a month sooner than the assault. She completed in forty fourth position.
Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, advised reporters on the clinic that he had misplaced a daughter who was once “very supportive” and hopes to get justice.
Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom stated Monday that Cheptegei’s spouse, Dickson Ndiema, purchased a can of gas, poured it on her and set her ablaze all over a confrontation Sunday. Ndiema was once additionally burned and was once being handled on the identical clinic.
Menach stated Ndiema was once nonetheless within the in depth care unit with burns over 30 according to cent of his frame however was once “making improvements to and strong.”
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Cheptegei’s folks stated their daughter purchased land in Trans Nzoia to be close to the county’s many athletic coaching facilities. A record filed by means of the native leader stated the 2 had been heard combating over the land the place her space was once constructed sooner than the assault.
The Uganda Athletics Federation eulogized Cheptegei at the social platform X, writing, “We’re deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, early this morning who tragically fell sufferer to home violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and make contact with for justice. Would possibly her soul relaxation In Peace.”
Uganda Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare referred to as the assault “a cowardly and mindless act that has resulted in the lack of an ideal athlete.”
In 2023, Ugandan Olympic runner and steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat was once discovered useless with stab wounds. In 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee was once discovered useless and a postmortem record mentioned that she was once strangled. In 2021, lengthy distance runner Agnes Tirop was once stabbed to dying at her house. Her husband, Ibrahim Rotich, was once arrested and charged with homicide, the case is ongoing.
&reproduction 2024 The Canadian Press