Athletics Kenya has put on notice training managers who sexually molest young runners under their care.

The AK president Jackson Tuwei claimed that some camps’ officials and managers prey on junior athletes in some parts of the country and said they would not entertain such behaviour.

Tuwei revealed that one of the camps in the South Rift region is under investigation and officials would face the full force of the law  if it is established that they are engaging in such criminal activities.

Ruining careers

“The moment we established that some camps’ managers and officials are sexually molesting our young athletes, we will move with speed to close the camps and arrest the perpetrators,” said he AK president.

Tuwei, who was speaking on Saturday at the Kericho Green Stadium during the South Rift regional U20 trials, warned that AK would  take stern measures on the perpetrators of the vices who were supposed to protect the athletes and uphold high standards of disciplines and morals.

“Camps managers and officials should impart high standards of discipline and morals to our junior athletes.

If they fail to do so, they should ship and go. AK is very much alert to ensure high discipline and morals are upheld at the athletics camps,” he added.

Tuwei said such officials and managers were ruining the lives and talents of junior athletes  most of them  still pupils in primary schools.

He warned athletes who cheat about their ages that their time was up.

He said those doing that would not be allowed to participate in any races and that AK was in a position to detect those lying about their ages.

The AK South Rift region branch secretary Japheth Kemei said that the region has been allocated a slot of 50 athletes who will participate in the national U20  trials in Kasarani, Nairobi, ahead of the U20 World Athletics championships slated for August in Nairobi.

Tuwei lauded the South Rift region as the home of prominent athletes who have conquered the world such as  Beatrice Chebet, the world U20 cross country champion and the winner of Doha Diamond League in 3,000m race and Timothy Cheruiyot, the 1500m world champion among others.

Kemei is upbeat that majority of the athletes from the region will make to the national team arguing the weekend event was very competitive.