Ill fight suspension to bitter end, Nock boss Kipchoge vows

Besieged National Olympics Committee-Kenya (Nock) chairman, Dr. Kipchoge Keino, intends to fight the decision by federations to strip him and his entire executive committee of powers of office in a suspension letter presented to him on Tuesday evening.

The long-serving leader and Olympics legend was served the letter by Andrew Mudibo, who was appointed Interim Nock secretary general following an extraordinary meeting held by federations last Saturday that ousted the entire sitting executive over the Rio 2016 Olympics fiasco.

Kipchoge will accompany a delegation Sports Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Hassan Wario that travels to International Olympics Committee (IOC) headquarters in Switzerland on Wednesday night to discuss the minister’s decision to disband the local body last month.

“These people are not following the IOC Charter and that of federations. Where did they even get the logo for Nock? This is impersonation and it will cause as more trouble than we are in.

“The Government is also going to answer to the IOC. I’m going to present this letter and they have already interfered with everything without waiting to hear the outcome from the IOC,” the upset Nock boss who took over in 2000 when Charles Mukora resigned over the Salt Lake Winter Olympics scandal told Citizen Digital on Wednesday.

According to the Interim Committee, the action against Kipchoge was in accordance to the recommendations and resolutions passed by the extraordinary General Assembly of Nock on September 10.

It is based on breach of duty of care for Team Kenya, failing to act with the highest degree of integrity, diligence and professionalism as required under Article 2 of the IOC Code of Ethics.

Kipchoge was further accused of failing to apply principal of good governance, transparency and accountability while conducting official responsibilities in accordance to Fundamental Rules of Olympism and Article 11 of the IOC Code of Ethics.

They further accused the revered Olympics Laureate of contravening Rule 4.20 of the Committee’s Constitution and article 2 of the IOC Code of Ethics requiring officials to refrain from any act involving fraud or corrupting, adding he also contravened the Missions and Roles of Noc as described under Article 27(50 of the Olympic Chatter and Article 1.3 of the IOC Code of Ethics by disrupting harmonious relations and cooperation between the Committee and State authorities.

“Your provisional suspension has been issued pending the results of an investigation into these allegations. You are herby requested to respond to the allegations within a period of 30 days from today’s date (September 13).

“Kindly note, that all your communications should be addressed to the Secretary of the Interim Committee which was constituted by the General Assembly.

“Consideration will be given to your explanations before a final decision is made on whether to lift of confirm your suspension in accordance with the constitution,” Mudibo of Kenya Tennis Association wrote.

Kichoge will be accompanied by his vice chairman Ben Ekumbo, Deputy Secretary James Chacha, IOC member Paul Tergat and lawyer Sharad Rao as their legal adviser.