Marathon star claims coach holding her money

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Caroline Cheptanui, the reigning Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon champion, is a bitter woman.After training for months, all her exertions now appear to have been in vain because her coach is allegedly still holding a big percentage of the prize money she won.When she claimed glory in the marathon, Cheptanui and her family rejoiced and had high hopes of a decent living. But all the expectations have been dealt a severe blow, after her coach, Dickson Kimetto, allegedly pocketed more than Sh1.1m from the Sh1.75m the budding athlete was awarded after her victory.

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Kimetto has, however, denied the allegations and said that he only took his right share of the deal. In a letter to Athletics Kenya (AK) secretary-general, David Okeyo, Cheptanui claims that Kimetto, who is a coach at the Highland Athletics Club, has refused to give her the money.”Kimetto took some money from me and promised to buy me land, but I have never seen the land nor has he produced any document to prove that he actually bought the land,” says the 23-year-old marathoner.Cheptanui alleges that Kimetto is also withholding another Sh1.5m she won in various races over the last three years — including victories in the Mavin Johns Road race, the Prague Marathon in 2004 and the Venice Marathon in 2003.
Cheptanui is now seeking assistance from AK to intervene and sort out the matter.

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“I am now suffering financially and unable to prepare to defend my Nairobi Marathon title later this year,” she said.
But Kimetto said whatever money he took from Cheptanui were refunds he had spent on her before she started earning from her races. The coach also shifted blame to Cheptanuis managers, who he claimed had not transferred part of the money the athlete won in some of her past races.”She stayed in my house for eight years and I took care of her. I spent about Sh2.7m on her for all that period and we actually had a mutual agreement with her that she would pay back the costs I incurred on her once she starts earning from her races,” Kimetto said.”Some managers have also not released what is due to her,” he added.Okeyo confirmed they had received the complaint, adding that they have summoned both parties to establish the true story.”We cannot make a decision until we hear the other version of the story (from Kimetto),” he said.
Okeyo said such complaints are common and have dealt with several in the past. He, however, expressed surprise at the huge amounts involved in this particular case.

© Eastern Standard