Court orders coach Berardelli passport to be released

A Nairobi court ordered on Tuesday that the passport of Italian coach, Claudio Berardelli who is charged with offences related to doping to be released with the case adjourned to November 24.

Berardelli and his two co-accused- former local clinical officers Daniel Cheribo Kiplangat and Stephen Kipchumba Kiplagat- appeared in court for the mention of their case where the State charged them with administering proscribed substances to two athletes.

Lawyer Julius Kemboi who was holding brief for Berardelli and third accused Cheribo asked the court to release the Italian’s passport saying that his Visa was about to expire and would like to have proper documents to allow him be in the country.

Second-accused Kiplagat who is representing himself told the court he had not been supplied with witness statements and other documented evidence by the prosecution as he asked for his phone and national ID to be released.

“I do not have a lawyer and I need to go through the statements properly. When the police came to collect evidence they took two of my phones and my national Identification Card.

“Your honour, I humbly request that my ID to be released because I cannot make money transactions without it and at least one phone,” Kiplangat prayed.

Milimani Law Court Senior Principal Magistrate Joyce Gandani adjourned the matter and allowed Berardelli to have his passport back and Kiplagat to be supplied with the said statements and documents.

“This is to enable the second accused to prepare his defence so that we shall not drag the matter. As for your phone and ID you be assisted for them to be released.

“In regards to first accused, I order his passport be released so that he can be able to process the necessary documents,” Gandani ruled.

Berardelli who runs the 2 Running Club in Kapsabet, Kiplagat and Limo are jointly charged with conspiracy to injure a person in their profession.

They are accused that on diverse dates between August and September 2014 in Kapsabet Town within Nandi County, jointly with others not before court, conspired to administer a prohibited substance in order to injure the profession of Rita Jeptoo the three-time Boston and two-time Chicago Marathon women champion.

Berardelli is out on a Ksh500,000 bond or the alternative of Ksh200,000 cash bail with the locals out on Ksh50,000 cash bail each.