Kipyegon Bett, a 26-year-old Kenyan athlete, tragically passed away on Sunday at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet County after battling an illness. Despite his promising start, Bett faced significant setbacks in his career, including a doping scandal that changed the trajectory of his professional life.
After winning an 800m bronze medal at the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London, Bett’s career seemed destined for greatness. He had also earned a medal at the U20 World Athletics Championships, further raising his profile. However, shortly after his triumph in London, he became embroiled in a doping controversy.
Bett alleged that his management failed to support him in his case, leading to his downfall. He claimed his management did not properly communicate with the organizers about his whereabouts during events, which led to missed tests. Bett argued that this neglect was part of a larger scheme to undermine his career. In a 2017 interview with CGTN, Bett stated, “There was another case about missing a test, and my management did not update my whereabouts as I was in Eugene and Stockholm.”
His management, however, refuted the accusations, maintaining that Bett was solely responsible for adhering to anti-doping regulations. The International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) later accused him of refusing to provide samples for testing and missing multiple tests.
In response, Bett claimed that the only test he missed was one in which the tester arrived alone. According to the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), a witness must accompany a tester, which Bett insisted was not the case. He denied any wrongdoing and expressed his frustration with the accusations.
A more serious doping charge was later brought against Bett when he was accused of injecting himself with erythropoietin (EPO), a banned substance. He continued to deny the allegations, asserting that he had never even heard of EPO before the charges. Despite his protests, Bett was suspended from athletics, and the case was referred to a tribunal for further investigation.
Bett revealed that his management had urged him to accept the doping charges, which he refused to do, knowing he was innocent. “My management tells me to accept the accusations and admit that I used the substances, yet I know I didn’t,” Bett said.
He made a brief comeback in 2022, competing in the 400m hurdles at the Kenya Track Meeting, where he finished third. However, his career never fully recovered, and he did not participate in any significant races after that.
Bett’s passing marks the end of a life filled with both triumphs and struggles. His story sheds light on the challenges many athletes face, both on and off the track.