NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 22 – A Nairobi court has acquitted top Italian athletics manager Federico Rosa who was facing doping charges after the State terminated the case on Tuesday.
A prosecutor told Kibera Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi that the Director of Public Prosecution had directed the case be withdrawn under Section 87A of the criminal procedure code.
“The hearing was to begin today but I have instructions to withdraw the case under Section 87A of the criminal procedure. The State wishes to conduct further investigations on the claims of doping,” State prosecutor Mary Wangele told the Court.
Federico, who manages top athletes in the country including three-time 1500m world champion Asbel Kiprop, was charged with six counts of doping in two cases filed by banned marathoner Rita Jeptoo and retired athlete Elijah Kiprono Boit.
Boit, who finished fourth at the 2011 IAAF World Youth Championship, was expected to testify on Wednesday after accusing the Rosa Associati director of injuring his reputation.
Boit had claimed Federico administered him banned substance between 2004 and 2008 in Italy while disgraced Jeptoo, who is serving a further two year ban for failing drugs test, alleged she was administered with the drug in 2004.
The prosecution had said in court documents that between 2004 and 2008 at Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County where Federico operates training camps, he administered a prohibited substance to Boit and Jeptoo.