According to the Web site of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Athletics Kenya (AK) is Kenya's national governing body for track and field (IAAF n.d.a; ibid. n.d.b). AK, an amateur sports organization (PANA 4 Sept. 2002), was formerly the Kenya Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA), which was established in 1952 (Daily Nation 21 Nov. 2002; Kenya n.d.). Isaiah Kiplagat is the chairman of AK (AK 20 Mar. 2007; East African Standard 8 Jan. 2007) and was the chairman of the KAAA in 2000 (ibid. 27 Mar. 2000). No information on the specific date on which Isaiah Kiplagat assumed the chairmanship of the KAAA could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

With respect to tribes, the Nandi belong to a larger group called the Kalenjin (KIMbia Athletics n.d.; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 5 May 2002). Successful runners in Kenya are primarily members of the Kalenjin ethnic group (PBS March 2004; KIMbia Athletics n.d.) and many originate from the Great Rift Valley in the Nandi District (ibid.; Sunday Nation 3 Sept. 2006). No specific information on whether the Nandi dominate AK or whether there is discrimination against other tribes could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. However, an article from a Web site on elite distance running makes reference to Kenya's "unpredictable selection process" for its track and field athletes (Mensracing.com 25 May 2005). A news service from Transparency International (TI) Kenya states that AK "regularly face[s] allegations of partiality in selection" of athletes (26 Apr. 2004).

With respect to AK being implicated in scandals, several 2004 news articles report that international athletes have raised complaints and filed lawsuits against AK regarding unclear constitutional rules and questionable electoral procedures (East African Standard 20 Dec. 2004; Daily Nation 1 Oct. 2004; East African Standard 9 Sept. 2004). The Daily Nation states that some athletes protested the October 2004 AK elections in which Isaiah Kiplagat was re-elected as chairman of the organization (13 Oct. 2004). An uncorroborated media article states that Eveready, the global battery company, withdrew financial support from AK due to inappropriate allocation of Eveready sponsorship funds (PANA 25 May 2004). Several media articles from 2002, 2006 and 2007 suggest a troubled relationship between AK and Kenyan athletes (Saturday Nation 9 Nov. 2002; East African Standard 2 Dec. 2002; ibid. 16 Jan. 2005; Daily Nation 6 Jan. 2007). Both TI Kenya and the East African Standard report that AK officials have been accused of bribing athletes (TI Kenya 26 Apr. 2004; East African Standard 16 Jan. 2005).

Information on Kenyan athletes competing under other nationalities is well documented (ibid. 9 July 2003; Cool Running 20 Sept. 2005; Kavulani Lukalo Dec. 2005). One example is the case of Saif Saaeed Shaheen (previously known as Stephen Cherono), who became a Qatari citizen in 2003 (ibid.; Cool Running 20 Sept. 2005) and subsequently won the world steeplechase title (ibid.) as well as other competitions (Daily Nation 20 Aug. 2004). An Associated Press (AP) news article reports that Shaheen stated he was offered USD 1,000 per month indefinitely to compete for Qatar (9 Sept. 2003). Hassan Abdullahi (previously known as Albert Chepkurui) also competed under Qatari citizenship during the same time frame as Shaheen (Daily Nation 20 Aug. 2004). A December 2005 paper presented at a conference on African development states that "[t]hough unsubstantiated, it seems plausible that [Qatar and Bahrain] are engaged in underhand deals with some officials of AK" (Kavulani Lukalo Dec. 2005).

In July 2003, a news article reported that the Kenyan government was "concerned" about athletes taking on new citizenships (East African Standard 9 July 2003). The same article indicates that then Sports Minister Najib Balala stated his intention to strike a committee to prevent the drain of athletes from Kenya (ibid.). According to the Associated Press (AP), the Kenyan government requested an explanation from AK regarding why Shaheen and Abdullahi were permitted to represent Qatar at the world championships in August 2003 (9 Sept. 2003). No information could be found on whether an official government inquiry exists or existed to investigate cases of Kenyan athletes competing under other nationalities among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to IAAF regulations, athletes must wait three years before competing for a new country under a new nationality (IAAF n.d.c; East African Standard 8 Jan. 2007). The Daily Nation reports that, in July 2004, Kenyan Foreign Minister Ali Mwakwere stated that Kenyan athletes, including Shaheen, would not be permitted to run under their new nationalities at the 2004 Olympics in Athens unless they fulfilled the three-year residency requirement in their new country (20 Aug. 2004). The same article also states that nevertheless, AK and other Kenyan government officials were pressing to allow such athletes to compete in Athens (Daily Nation 20 Aug. 2004). Media articles report that athletes have also been banned from certain competitions for training in foreign countries (East African Standard 6 Aug. 2003; Daily Nation 6 Aug. 2003).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Associated Press (AP) Worldstream. 9 September 2003. "Government Upset at Kenyan Athletes' Quick Change of Nationality." (Dialog)

Athletics Kenya (AK). N.d. Isaiah Kiplagat. "From the Chairman." http://www.athleticskenya.com/Chairman.htm [Accessed 20 Mar. 2007]

Cool Running. 20 September 2005. Isa Omok. "Kenya Seeks to Place Blame for Helsinki Flop." http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/3/3_11/kenya-seeks-to-place-blam.shtml [Accessed 20 Mar. 2007]

Daily Nation [Nairobi]. 6 January 2007. Martin Keino. "AAGM: AK's Licences Issue is Causing Anxiety." (Factiva)

______. 13 October 2004. Peter Njenja. "AAGM: Athletics Top Brass Are Re-Elected." (Factiva)

______. 1 October 2004. "Athletes' Poll Case Taken To Cj." (Factiva)

______. 20 August 2004. Fred Waga. "AAGM: Shaheen Face Spotted on Web Photo, Kenya Olympic Committee Protests." (Factiva)

______. 6 August 2003. Kimutai to Skip Camp." (Factiva)

______. 21 November 2002. Peter Njenga. "Association to Honour Past Heroes." http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/21112002/Sports/Sports2.html [Accessed 21 Mar. 2007]

East African Standard [Nairobi]. 8 January 2007. Chris Mbaisi and Robin Toskin. "AK Boss Disowns Troubled Athlete." (Factiva)

______. 16 January 2005. Chris Mbaisi. "Kosgei Unmoved by Move to Sack Him as National Coach." http://www.eastandard.net/archives/cl/hm_news/news_s.php?articleid=10852&date=17/01/2005 [Accessed 21 Mar. 2007]

______. 20 December 2004. Vincent Bartoo. "Athletics Kenya Law Plan Halted." (Factiva)

______. 9 September 2004. Chris Mbaisi. "How Officials Survived Court Order." (Factiva)

______. 6 August 2003. "SteepleChase Legend Kiptanui Finds a New Role." (Factiva)

______. 9 July 2003. "Government Flays Defections." (Factiva)

______. 2 December 2002. "Kenyan Athletes Must Abide." (Factiva)

______. 27 March 2000. Peter Njenja and Eric Odanga. "Squabbling Mars EA Show in Portugal Championship." http://www.nationaudio.com/News/EastAfrican/27032000/Sports/Sports2.html [Accessed 21 Mar. 2007]

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). N.d.a. "IAAF National Member Federations." http://www.iaaf.org/insideIAAF/federations/index.html [Accessed 21 Mar. 2007]

______. N.d.b. "Kenya (KEN)." http://www.iaaf.org/insideIAAF/federations/firstLetter=K/area=AFR/fedCode=152191/index.html [Accessed 21 Mar. 2007]

______. N.d.c. "Competition Rules 2006-2007." http://www.iaaf.org/newsfiles/23484.pdf [Accessed 23 Mar. 2007]

Kavulani Lukalo, Fibian. December 2005. Institute for Human Resource Development, Moi University. "(Mis)understanding of Nation and Identity: Re-Imagining of Sports in the Future of African Development." Paper presented at the 11th General Assembly of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. http://www.codesria.org/Links/conferences/general_assembly11/papers/lukalo.pdf [Accessed 21 Mar. 2007]

Kenya. N.d. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Sports." http://www.mfa.go.ke/sports.html [Accessed 21 Mar. 2007]

KIMbia Athletics. N.d. "Kenya." http://www.kimbia.net/country.kenya.php [Accessed 21 Mar. 2007]

Mensracing.com. 25 May 2005. Scott Douglas. "Kenya Comes Up Short: Thoughts on the Country's Recent 'Failures' in Major Championships." http://www.mensracing.com/athletes/features/2005/kenyanrunning02.html [Accessed 20 Mar. 2007]

Panafrican News Agency (PANA) Daily Newswire. 25 May 2004. "Eveready Withdraws Financial Backing of Athletics Kenya." (Factiva)

______. 4 September 2002. "Kenya's Athletics Body to Launch Sports TV Station." (Factiva)

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 5 May 2002. "Fast Forward: The Rise of Kenya's Women Runners." http://www.post-gazette.com/printer.asp [Accessed 20 Mar. 2007]

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). March 2004. "Kenya - Run, Lornah, Run. Facts and Stats." http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/kenya/facts.html [Accessed 20 Mar. 2007]

Saturday Nation. 9 November 2002. "Good Move by Sports Body." (Factiva)

Sunday Nation. 3 September 2006. Peter Njenga. "Athletics - Nandi All Set for Kapsabet Streets' Race." (Factiva)

Transparency International (TI) Kenya. 26 April 2004. "The Evolution of Bad Governance in Kenyan Sports." Adili, Issue 55. http://www.tikenya.org/documents/Adili55.pdf [Accessed 21 Mar. 2007]

Internet sites, including: Eveready, Government of Kenya, Official Website of the Olympic Movement.