NAIROBI, July 6 – Athletics Kenya (AK) has suspended two agents indefinitely.
Gianni Demadonna and Volker Wagner have been blacklisted from representing Kenyan athletes after their athletes competed in Europe without the association’s consent.
In an email communiqué copied to IAAf general secretary Pierre Weiss on Monday, AK chairman Isaiah Kiplagat said that Demadonna had organized for Gideon Ngatuny and Elizabeth Mueni to race in Japan and Oslo respectively without AK’s permission.
“Gideon Ngatunyi who has already been selected to represent Kenya during the forthcoming World Championships, He ran a 21K race last week in Japan without our clearance. Also Elizabeth Mueni in our juniour African team competed in Oslo without the same clearance as Hilda who is also out without a letter from us,” read the email.
Wagner was banned because of organizing a race for Sammy Kitwara in the USA.
“Sammy Kitwara is an athlete already selected to represent Kenya in 10,000M during the World championships. We have just found out that he ran 10k Road race in the U.S.A without our authority, “said Kiplagat.
“In our previous circular, no athlete was to compete without clearance from us. While we wait for your explanation on the matter, you are hereby suspended indefinitely from representing any Kenyan athlete and the IAAF is being informed accordingly to effect this decision and remove you from the list of managers managing our athletes.”
Last week, AK sent out a warning that any athlete representing the country at this year’s World championships would have to get permission to race in Europe from Riadha House failure to which, the association promised to take action against the athlete’s managers.
“All the athletes especially the probables for the World Athletics Championships who wish to participate in the on going IAAF Golden Leagues / Grand Prix must first of all seek permission from the federation before they can be cleared to travel for such competitions,” said the AK supremo.
He added that any athlete who fails to do so would face disciplinary action, “any athlete who does not abide by this will face disciplinary action. We will also hold his or her agent accountable because it is agents who at times misguide these athletes.”
