Nock assures athletes, officials over Rio visas

The National Olympics Committee-Kenya (Nock) has assured athletes and officials who are yet to receive visas and passports they will have them before they travel on July 31 for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Deputy Chef-de-Mission James Chacha also sought to allay concern among sprinters after reports surfaced they would travel without their coach, John Anzrah, who is yet to be accredited for the Summer Games.

“I do not know who is spreading panic  amongst the athletes. We’re are still following in up on those who are yet to receive their passports and as for the officials who don’t have accreditation they will get them once they are in Rio.

“It’s only that there time is not enough to send the accreditations to Kenya,” Chacha told Citizen Digital.

Team Kenya’s camp has been rocked by a number of hitches that put Nock’s preparations for Rio 2016 into sharp focus.

On Thursday, Africa High jump champion, Mathew Sawe and the men 4x400m relay team were withdrawn from the squad for failing to meet the required standards.

Sawe has B-Standard qualification with the A-Standard of 2.29m proving to be out of his reach while Kenya is ranked 18th in the 4x400m relay.

However, Athletics Kenya (AK) boss, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei told Sawe his case was being reviewed and a final decision would be made on Monday.

That is when it will also be established who among the four men 400m athletes selected after the July 1 Kenyan Trials in Eldoret will be left.

Raymond Kibet, Alphas Kishoyan, Alex Sampao and Boniface Mweresa who were selected for the men 400m individual and relay are sweating over their Rio destiny.

“Why are these things happening now and they knew all qualifying standards? There is something going on here,” a top athlete in the team complained to Citizen Digital.

Nock announced a Ksh584m budget for Team Kenya for Rio 2016 with the Government footing most of the cost.