More controversy as Longosiwa denies receiving Rio allowances

A stunned Thomas Longosiwa on Wednesday contradicted part of the Rio 2016 Olympics Probe Committee report findings stating he received an overseas allowance of Ksh761,833 from the Ministry of Sports despite not travelling for the Summer Games.

The London Olympics bronze medalist stated he was ready to present his bank statement as proof that such transaction never occurred, questioning the motive behind such allegations which he says now leave his chances of ever forming part of Team Kenya in jeopardy.

The All-Africa bronze medalist however admitted having received team kits and assured he was ready to return them should the need be.

“I was called for the camp but eventually there was no communication from the officials as to whether or not I was part of the team. How can they say I was paid oversees allowances yet I didn’t know about their travel arrangements?

“They kept on telling me that I’m going up until the last minute when they were issuing flight tickets.  It is only then that I found out that they did not have my ticket. I sought clarification from Coach Julius Kirwa who assured me that my issue would be resolved and that it was merely a hitch.  They took me round in circles until I finally realized I wasn’t going to travel.

He added the allegations have tainted his name and could ultimately kill his cherished dream of making the Tokyo 2020 team.

“I received my local allowance which is evident since I was in camp for the whole month. When I was in camp they asked me to cancel all races which I did and stayed in camp with Team Kenya for the whole month. Yet they knew very well that I was not going for the Games. I would like the truth to come out, because this is really tainting my name. Everyone should carry his or her own cross.

“Whenever I tried inquiring about the travelling issue I was treated coldly as an enemy. I thought and said to myself that I’m not an upcoming athlete and have been in this field for a long time, so I could not cry over making to the travelling party and it was not worth my troubles. I still wonder whether there are special athletes who are supposed to travel to represent the country,” Longosiwa posed.

He was named alongside Congo Brazzaville All-Africa Games 400m silver medalist Boniface Mweresa, Kiprono Kosgei and Maurine Mutuku as having received the allowance packages with the probe committee report commending Mutuku for returning the money on October 20, after an untimely ailment forced her out of the quadrennial showpiece.

“The Probe committee also found out that athletes were paid at rates above what the Salaries and Remunerations Commission has approved, they were also paid for more days than they were actually in Brazil. All officials and accompanying staff were paid for more days than they were in Brazil. This is an anomaly that should not happen in future games,” an excerpt from the report read.