Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics 800m champion Pamela Jelimo was in ecstasy after being feted with her deserved 2012 London Olympic bronze medal.

 The colourful ceremony held in Nairobi yesterday was attended by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba and National Olympic Committee Kenya (NOC-K) President Paul Tergat.

The ceremony conducted by the NOC-K saw Jelimo, Janet Jepkosgei and Hellen Obiri awarded for their efforts during the London Olympics a decade ago. Jepkosgei moved up to seventh place while Obiri moved to eighth in the 1500m event.

Jelimo, 32, now a police officer,  finished fourth in the women’s  800m final at the London games. Now she has been feted with a bronze medal after the winner of the race, Mariya Savinova from Russia, was disqualified for doping violations.

The famous athletics jackpot winner was in great elation and noted that the medal will be of enormous inspiration to her children and other athletes.

“I am so happy today and indeed justice has been served. Getting awarded at home after almost a decade is special and I will cherish this achievement considering it was one of the things missing from my cabinet.

Financial package

“I just want to tell athletes that getting involved in doping is a disgrace and it will haunt you for life. People must just train hard to win clean with no shortcuts.

“It is a long wait for me to get my dues but it has come and it is well deserved. I know even the financial package might come later,” said the mother of three.

This was only the second time that an Olympic medal ceremony was conducted in Kenya since 2011 when Asbel Kiprop was honoured with a gold medal in 1500m race competed in Beijing after Moroccan winner Rashid Ramzi was found guilty for doping violations.

CS Namwamba on his part said the country needed to diversify its products in sports to be able to get more accolades.

He said, “It is painful that Pamela had to wait for 10 years just because of some cheats. It is unfortunate and this should not be something we encourage.

“Today she is a more honourable athlete because of clean running. Pamela’s Olympic medal presents an opportunity to wage any unscrupulous behaviour out.

“Kenya’s biggest export has been athletics and the government will. not allow perpetrators to destroy our heritage built over years.

“I want only to encourage NOC-K to expand our scope so we can get more medals. We want to work with national athletics federations and managers to ensure that doping is eradicated.”

On his part, NOC-K president Paul Tergat said this move by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was a win for Kenya and Athletics Integrity.

“This is a statement win for our country Kenya at a time when we are putting our heads together in the fight against doping. May this war remind us as is the case with Pamela and Janet, of the importance of running clean. I believe you are going to spread the gospel of clean sport. No matter the wait, winning clean is worth the patience,” Tergat said.