Four Kenyan-Born Athletes Renounce Kenyan Citizenship to Represent Kazakhstan
Four Kenyan-born athletes have switched their international allegiance as they seek to compete on the global stage.
Norah Jeruto, Daisy Jepkemei, Shadrack Koech, and Caroline Chepkoech have been granted Kazakhstan citizenship after the World Athletics approved their request to represent the Central Asian country at the international level.
The four, whose applications to represent Kazakhstan had initially been denied, took oaths denouncing their country of birth.
Jeruto’s decision to ditch Kenya for Kazakhstan comes barely six months after she won the Women's 3000m Steeplechase during the finals of the Wanda Diamond League 2021 season in Zurich, Switzerland. She clinched the gold medal in 9:07.34, more than a second ahead of her compatriot Hyvin Kiyeng’s 9:08.55.
The 2016 Africa Championship 3000m steeplechase champion also won the Valencia 10km run in Spain earlier this year as well as the Discovery Kenya Cross Country Championship in Eldoret.
Rule 1.4.2 of the World Athletics Charter states that athletes who gain new citizenship or wish to change their status can do so if three years have passed since they competed for their country.
Comments (7)
It's all about looking of yourself first,then the country...After all nobody chose the borders they were born in.
That said, what is interesting to me is why acountry would want to "buy" athletes from another country instead of developing their athletes? Is that not denying their athletes an opportunity to participate in international events.I have always been lead to believe that participation is more important than winning,isn't that what Olympic games are founded on?
So, I've got this prime piece of waterfront real estate intersecting FDR drive and overlooking the East River without obstruction. Make me an offer. Anyway my point is people lie, no one remembers who came in 6th, hell they barely remember the silver medalist - who came in 2nd to Rudisha in London? You had to look it up. If using athletes moves you to the top of the heap, countries with means will do it. Arabs are horrible to Africans yet in their zeal to win, they pay Africans a king's ransom in order to get on the medal stand and have their anthems played. Winning is the only thing and there are no participation medals.
@ Mundumugo,Iam looking at the larger picture.Its sports we are talking about here.Not doctors,and engineers ...My apology if I sound like I am disparaging sports.
Athletes in these buying countries must feel belittled and slated.Why not develop then into world beating athletes,that would earn then Gold medals...You cannot keep on buying,at some point you have to produce your own. We cannot deny the fact that people want to see "their own" do well.If ten years from now we start seeing only africans in long distances races.that would kill the "spirit" of the long distance running.
I guess the only way to discourage"passport for cash" transactions is to copy a page from FIFA. Make running clubs,like in Japan.There are agood number of Kenyan runners representing various clubs there...
Being a citizen of a country is much more than just being bought.How can you in an overnight denounce the country that raised you for over 25 years,and embrace acountry you practically know nothing about,have no roots?For that@ mundumugo, I agree with your assessment that,"Anyway my pint is that people lie".
I understand the motivation of denouncing your birth rights in order to reap big financial gains lakini current exchange rate ya Kazakhstani Tenge to the Kenya schilling ni 0.22. Uganda has a better rate than that. Maybe these Kenyan women married Kazakhs.
I hope they read the fine print so they don't get conned like shaheen cherono. Couldn't take millions to Kenya and once injured they didn't care. Arabs and Muslims are killing sport by investing splashing oil money yet they don't love it. They using it to uplift their country's image
Good for them.
Welcome to the International community.
Good for them.
Like I had stated before, the COOKS have eaten the whole POT, so whatever it takes to survive, WAKENYA we are in.
HOW MANY INDIANS ,EVER GO BACK TO INDIA ONCE THEY COME TO KENYA??
BUT, THEY SUPPORT EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF TEARING THEM DOWN.