LOS ANGELES, March 26 – Joseph Mutinda, a Kenyan runner who trains in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has been banned for three years after admitting to doping, the US Anti-Doping Agency said Wednesday.

In a release from its Colorado headquarters, USADA said that Mutinda admitted the use of various banned performance enhancing drugs after twice testing positive for 19-norandrosterone, a metabolite of an anabolic agent.

In the wake of the postive tests, 40-year-old Mutinda also admitted the use of blood-boosting hormone EPO and the diuretic furosemide, used as a masking agent.

As a result of an in-competition positive test at the 2014 Austin Marathon on February 16 of last year, Mutinda has been stripped of his title in the Texas race, which he won in 2hr 14min 16sec.

He has in fact been stripped of all results from December 15, 2013, the date on which USADA said records show he was first administered EPO.

Mutinda’s ban comes as Kenya grapples with a doping problem that reached crisis proportions with the two-year ban in January of top marathoner Rita Jeptoo — winner of Multiple Chicago and Boston marathon titles.

More than 35 Kenyan athletes have been suspended over the last two years for doping offences, with Kenyan sports bosses accused of inaction on the doping issue.

The doping offences have stunned Kenya, whose distance runners are national heroes.

Kenya have formed a new anti-doping agency to regulate the testing of athletes, in partnership with China and Norwegian agencies and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

GUIYANG, March 26- Team Kenya arrived in Guiyang, China in the early hours of Thursday morning ready for their mission on Saturday at the 41st IAAF World Cross Country in China.

Overcast conditions, a steady chill and occasional drizzling met the runners who did not waste time in going for their morning training hours after arrival at the scenic Guanshanhu Park, the sprawling nature trail with a lake in the middle surrounding the Jinyang Nations Square in Xiaowangtiai.

“We have come here to China to give it our best shot. As a captain, I’m ready to give my all in my race since in 2011, I won as a junior and now, I’m going to give it a go as a senior.

“We are used to this kind of weather and I don’t see it being a problem. It’s a good thing everyone will run under this weather. Everyone competing here is ready and we are also ready,” team captain and 2011 World Cross Junior champion, Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor said after their session.

Two-time World Cross senior women champion, Emily Chebet, who is going for a hat-trick stressed she’s under no pressure to execute a podium performance since she has come to China as part of her team.

“I’m happy to be here in China and getting a chance to run at my third World Cross. I’m not thinking of winning or medals since I’m here as part of a team.

“We are here to work together since Cross Country running is all about team work and whatever happens at the end, we will all be happy to know we worked for each other, not as individuals,” the 2010 and 13 champion, both in Bydgoszcz, Poland added.

“I love running the World Cross and the Chinese have given us a good welcome, that is what is more important to me, not titles. I thank Athletics Kenya for giving me a chance to be here,” Chebet, who is poised to join the hallowed class of three-time winners, Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba (long course) and Edith Masai (short course) said on prospects of winning the World Cross outside Poland.

“The cold and wet conditions are not a threat, we had them in Poland and in training we factored in whatever weather we shall meet. At the end of the day, it will all be decided on the course,” she said of the chilly blanket that welcomed them to Guiyang.

-Managers barred-

At the same time, team management has barred Athletes’ Representatives from accessing their clients at the official team hotel until Saturday evening after the showdown.

This, the officials said, was to help the runners focus on the task at hand where Kenya is the main attraction for an established winning tradition at the now biennial event.

“We have seen some managers come here to organise races and this distracts their focus since we are here to represent our country. Some could even advise their runners to run against what the coaches have instructed them,” a team official who sought anonymity disclosed.

Kenya is among the 51 nations who have arrived in the blooming Chinese lakeside city reputed to be the rainiest in the country to vie for individual and team honours in the showcase collection of multiple discipline distance runners.

-Mutwiri Mutuota reporting from Guiyang, China-

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 26 – Cash strapped AFC Leopards on Thursday announced they are planning for a fundraising mid April to enable the club conduct its affairs, after shirt sponsor Mumias Sugar suspended their funding for three months.

Club assistant secretary general, Professor Asava Kadima confirmed to Capital Sport, they received notice from the Sugar Company that has been facing financial constraints since the beginning of last year.

Mumias Marketing and Corporate Affairs Director, Margret Makhungu told SuperSport.com the company is experiencing financial difficulties that had made it difficult to finance non core functions that were previously undertaken by the firm.

“We are experiencing some troubling moments that have made us make key decisions on sponsorships. Sponsoring football is not a core function of the company. For now we are reviewing our contract with the club.”

The decision came at a time the Den has been invaded by problems, where the technical bench and playing unit are yet to received their two month salary and bonus arrears, a result that saw the players paralyze their pre-season after going on strike on several occasions.

“Yes Mumias has informed us they will put our sponsorship on hold for three months because their cash flow is not stable but we are optimistic the partnership will resume soon. They are still our shirt sponsor since we have not terminated the contract.

“They haven’t released the salary and bonuses for the past two months and that’s why we are setting up plans to hold a fundraising as we search for other avenues,” Kadima declared.

The decision by Mumias comes just two months after the company had reaffirmed their commitment to the club.

In January, the company through the Managing Director Coutts Otolo disclosed the Company will meet its financial obligation and total commitment to the team until the end of their contract in December 2016.

Mumias Sugar has been paying the salaries of the players and the technical bench since signing a three-month deal in 2011.

Leopards who appointed former Gor Mahia and Tanzania’s Simba SC tactician to replace Dutchman Pieter De Jongh, seems to have found their form in the 2015 Kenyan Premier League after registering two wins and a draw in three matches.

GUIYANG, March 26- Kenya perennial rivals, Ethiopia, are determined to get a march on their rivals and other competitors on Saturday when the 41st IAAF World Cross Championships get underway here in Guiyang starting at 12 noon local time (+8GMT).

Their whole complement of 24 runners arrived in this lakeside Chinese city on Wednesday evening hoping to reclaim the glory days of World Cross legends, Kenenisa Bekele, Worknesh Kidane and Tirunesh Dibaba who remain the most medalled male and female athletes in the history of the now biennial event.

Kenenisa who recently pulled out of April’s London Marathon injured has collected an unmatched medal haul of 27, 16 of them gold, 12 individual and four team in his chequered period of dominance that stretched from 2001 to 2008.

Retired Worknesh is the most female runner of all time with 21, 11 golds, six silvers and four bronzes whilst Tirunesh, who’s absent on maternal duty has five golds and three silvers.

Ethiopia also leads the overall team titles count with 121 against Kenya’s 119 although the latter have bagged more team titles with 81, well ahead of their chief rival’s 42.

The numbers will be cast to history when the latest instalment kicks off at the muddy course in Guiyang with Ethiopia keen to improve on the lone individual and team title they won in Poland in 2013 in the junior men where Hagos Gebrehiwot beat Kenya’s Leonard Barsoton to the top medal as his teammates wrapped up the least points in the team contest.

Ethiopia, who possess a largely fresh faced squad, were among the top attractions when they stepped out to the training track in Guanshanhu Park around the Jinyang Nations Square in Xiaowangtiai with their bright yellow, green and red number that is world famous for distance running excellence.

“I have trained with the national team together. I have special training for cross country with God, I can do it this year,” Tamirat Tola, the surprise winner of the 12km senior race at the Janmeda Cross Country Championships in Addis Ababa that is the country’s selection event asserted.

In flooring Hagos, the 2013 junior titleholder and Muktar Edris, a former World Junior gold medallist, Tamirat arrived with China with a point to prove as he bids to lead the line to reclaim the title last won by former World 5000m champion, Imane Merga in Punta Umbria, Spain in 2011.

Bonsa Dida, Atsedu Tsegay and Tesfaye Abera complete their challengers’ for the Holy Grail of World Cross running.

- Fresh faces-

While the world if familiar with the likes of Tirunesh and Kidane, Ethiopia will parade a largely fresh line-up in the senior women’s race that has the brief of wresting the title held by Kenya since 2009 when Florence Kiplagat won in Amman, Jordan to snap their streak.

Since then, Emily Chebet twice in 2010 and 13 and Vivian Cheruiyot in 2011 have kept the women’s long race title north of their shared border.

Unheard of Genet Yalew scorched the field at Janmeda to front the Guiyang 2015 class and has immediately set sights on emulating her idol and three-time senior champion Tirunesh Dibaba on Saturday.

Yalew uncorked the afterburners on seasoned favourites Belaynesh Oljira, the two-time World Championships bronze winner, Alemitu Haroye, the World Junior 5000m champion and Mamitu Daska, the 66:27 career best Half Marathoner at the selection event and should she continue her upward trajectory, she could well earn the crown of the revelation of Guiyang 2015.

“I have tried so many times and at the last edition, I lost because I tactically did not run well, it was not because I don’t have talent,” she boldly stated through a translator.

“Now, I can win, I’ve trained hard in Addis but the weather here is not like Ethiopia. Anyway, I will try my best,” she added on Thursday after shaking off the jet lag with two light sessions on the training track in the morning and around the team hotel in the afternoon.

First timers Netsanet Gudeta and Senbere Taferi complete their women 8km armada.

Yihunilign Adane, Haymanot Alewe, Abe Gashahun, Yasin Haji, Yohans Mekasha and Adane Weletaw who are tasting the showpiece cross showdown for the first time are Ethiopia’s hopes in the men 8km junior race.

To round off the team, Dera Dida, Letesenbet Gidey, Dagmawit Kidane, Zerfe Lemeneh, Mihret Tefera and Etagegn Woldu will vie for the medals in the women junior 6km.

Just like Kenya, the country has lost talent to Qatar, Bahrain and Spain through naturalisation but on Saturday, their former compatriots just like their archenemies will be on their radar in the battle supreme.

-Mutwiri Mutuota is reporting from Guiyang, China/Picture IAAF

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 27 – 2006 Safari Rally champion Azar Anwar, is the newest member to join Silverspread Team Meru which has entered six cars for the 63rd event that revs off next weekend to traverse Nairobi, Machakos, Laikipia and Meru counties over the long Easter holiday.

The team features 2013 Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) two-wheel drive winner Dennis Mwenda, who is the oldest member, Job Njiru and Asad Khan.

Helen Shiri who will be driving in Subaru Impreza GC8, one of the only two lady drivers in the competition, is part of the smaller team includes Geoff Mayes and James Karimi in Toyota Levine and Subaru Impreza GC8.

Meanwhile, the Kabras Team of defending champion Baldev Chager, Onkar Rai and Tejveer Rai are back in the fold following fears that they could be locked out after failing to submit their entry forms by the Wednesday evening deadline.

Also in the race is former Uganda champion Jas Mangat.

Limuru based Quentin Mitchell has announced an ambitious plan for Global Rallying domination in the event that will see drivers compete in the 9000km course, making the rally more of an endurance event as opposed to a sprint competition .

Quentin will be navigated by British Tom Woodburn in his Skoda Fabia S2000 super car by rising.

Quentin, who will be seeking the title after finishing the podium twice in 2012 and 13, has set himself a five year target of competing regularly in the World Rally Championship.

And after three years of being the fastest Subaru driver in East Africa he is now hoping that the more agile Skoda will allow him a fair chance at fighting for the top step of the podium.

“Preparations for last year’s Safari were less than ideal as taking delivery of the car was delayed until the very last minute. This year we are much better organized and with the rally moving back to its historic Easter date I’m excited to take to the start on Easter Friday.

“The route looks amazing, a genuine throwback to the old marathon events, and it is obvious the organizing team have worked very hard to give us an event worthy of consideration into the international arena,” said Mitchell.

GUIYANG, March 27- The spotlight has never shone on Emily Chebet Muge like it has in Guiyang, China ahead of her title senior women’s title defence at the 41st edition of IAAF World Cross Country.

The champion of few words has been thrust to the centre of attention since she touched down in China as the reluctant star of the meet among 436 competitors drawn from 51 nations as she stands on the cusp of history.

A successful defence will make her only the third woman in history to win the coveted women’s long race title thrice in the illustrious footsteps of Norwegian legend and five-time winner, Grete Waitz and match Ethiopian titan, Tirunesh Dibaba in the World Cross roll of honour.

What would set her apart from her illustrious predecessors is the fact she would become the first athlete in the biennial cycle era of the global showpiece to complete the hat-trick but she’s not keen on chasing down history.

“I did not come here to run to match anybody; I came here to run my race with my teammates to help each other on the course. Win or lose, I will be satisfied with knowing I did my best for my nation, I’m not running as an individual,” she declared.

Having missed her first title defence in Punta Umbria, Spain in 2011 with injury, fate conspired to almost rob the Guiyang World Cross one of its biggest attractions after stomach acid slowed her down to 14th at the February 18 National Championships and out of the running for an automatic place in the Kenyan squad.

Athletics Kenya (AK) selectors gambled on including her in the provisional squad as a wildcard and injury to national champion and title prospect, two-time World Cross junior champion, Faith Chepng’etich in camp thrust her back as her nation’s strongest weapon for glory in the women’s long race on Saturday.

“I don’t know who will win. We have come here as a team and the cold does not scare us since we are accustomed to running in Europe in such conditions. Everyone wants to win so at the end of the day, our aim is to work as a team and at the final metres, then we shall see,” she added.

On Friday, Chebet, 29 alongside teammate and captain, Geoffrey Kipsang, American men senior hopeful and 10th finisher from Poland, Chris Derrick and local star Ding Chanqin who will be among her challengers in the women’s 8km showdown was selected for the IAAF Press Conference.

“We are pleased Emily Chebet returns to defend the title she won in Bydgoszcz, Poland in 2010 and 2013,” IAAF President, Lamine Diack said in his tribute to the Kericho born and bred athlete.

 – Champion of fate-

During the run-up to her previous triumphs where she came to the World Cross on the back of identical fourth finishes at the Kenyan Trials, Chebet ended up being an incidental winner, her battle of wills grinding compatriot Linet Masai and Ethiopian Hiwot Ayalew with the tape in sight.

With humid conditions and a muddy track ready to be obstacles to her march to history, it would be foolish to see past last year’s Commonwealth 10,000m bronze medallist in Guiyang in her pursuit for a hat-trick of world cross-country titles having chalked two podium finishes in Spain earlier this year.

Despite the absence of Chepng’etich, Chebet has an able supporting cast to ensure the other 25 nations in contention have a battle in their hands to end Kenya’s reign since 2009 when Florence Kiplagat ended Ethiopia’s choke hold in the winding sandy Amman course.

Agnes Tirop is making her international senior debut, having taken silver in the junior race two years ago before turning the metal to gold the following year in Kampala during the Africa Cross Country Championships.

Meanwhile, Janet Kisa and Alice Aprot, who won silver and bronze in Kampala, are other studs in the Kenyan charge.

-Ethiopian challenge-

With a hard winding course laid out for the combatants, Ethiopia’s best are hopeful of adapting to the conditions better than their Kenyan rivals with 2011 junior silver medallist Genet Yalew leading the way.

Last month the 22-year-old demonstrated her dominance in the mud by leaving behind the likes of world junior 5000m champion Alemitu Heroye and world 10,000m and cross-country bronze medallist Belaynesh Oljira, both of whom also feature on the team.

Uganda’s Juliet Chekwel is ranked as an imposing dark horse in what is expected to be another East Africa duel for honours.

 -Mutwiri Mutuota is reporting from Guiyang, China/Photo IAAF

GUIYANG, March 27- On the eve of the 41st World Cross in Guiyang, the chill descended on the capital city of Guizhou province, southwest China with vengeance in a telling challenge to pretenders of the senior men 12km throne to dare the elements for glory.

With high humidity and the mercury dropping sharply, the Holy Grail of the World Cross is vacant after titleholder, Japheth Korir, was ruled out of the competition after bombing out at the Kenyan Trials.

Not even a three week stay at the team’s training camp in Kigari, Embu some 200km north of Nairobi could convince coaches Korir, who made history as the youngest ever winner of the top medal when he stunned the field in Poland in 2013, would be fit to defend the most coveted prize of the biennial global contest to include him in the Guiyang squad.

A 2:19 marathon run in Taipei a week to the February 18 Trials left him with little time to recover although the outgoing champion and his Golazo camp strenuously denied he was the ‘Japheth Korir’ who finished fourth at that event, although by finishing 48th, the fatigue was there to see.

With the surprise Poland champion and fifth Kenyan after John Ngugi, Paul Tergat (both five-time champions), William Sigei (two-time winner) and Joseph Ebuya to bag the signature title of the event absent, a straight battle between his compatriots and Ethiopia is expected in the race to fill his shoes.

- Karoki v Kamworor-

At the pre-race IAAF Press Conference, reigning World Half Marathon champion, Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor who uncorked a gun-to-tape victory in the junior 8km race at the 2011 Punta Umbria edition was asked whether the contest for the crown would be a straight shootout between him and the Japan based athlete who beat him to second at the Kenyan Trial, Bedan Karoki.

“This is not a competition between me and Karoki; it is a race for all who will be there since anyone can win. I’m not focusing on anyone but my aim is to do my best on the day with my teammates to ensure we defend our title.

“There are good runners from Ethiopia, Uganda and our brothers in Bahrain and Qatar and the Eritreans at well so we trained hard expecting to come here and find strong competition,” the 22 year-old who has finished thrice at London Marathons on two occasions told the gathering.

According to the form book, there is no other nation with the potent force the Kenyans bring to Guiyang but on a hard twisting course in high humidity and cloudy conditions that favours endurance over speed, then another surprise is well in the cards.

Karoki was one of the in-form runners in 2014 but in a fallow championship year, the Japan-based Kenyan didn’t leave as much of a mark as he might have done. Among other accolades, Karoki won the Kenyan cross-country title, went unbeaten on the roads, and set PBs over 5000m and 10,000m.

-Champions’ hoodoo-

Five-time winner Tergat was the last Kenyan to leave home as national champion to return with the Holy Grail with the honour of winning the toughest cross country race, perhaps even harder than the World Cross itself proving to be a poisoned chalice.

But having retained his domestic cross-country title on February 18, the stage is set for Karoki, who hails from the same region in as five-time champion Ngugi, to challenge for his first international title.

Karoki, who finished fifth over 10,000m at the 2012 Olympics, is making his World Cross debut in Guiyang after turning down the chance to compete at last year’s continental showdown in Kampala, Ugana.

“Coming here was my dream and the World Cross was my target for two years. Last year, I refused to go to Kampala because my aim was to come and try to win this.

“I have trained well and this is one title I would love to win before going up to the marathon in future,” Karoki underlined.

Kamworor has mainly excelled over longer distances, but the strongman of the Kenyan team will be in contention to add this title over 12km to his world half-marathon crown from last year.

The third leading contender is another Japan-based runner, Leonard Barsoton. He won silver in the junior race two years ago, and won the African senior title last year.

- Ethiopian cream-

World 5000m silver medallist Hagos Gebrhiwet and last year’s top-ranked 5000m runner Muktar Edris are the best-known names on the Ethiopian squad but the renowned track runner, who won gold and bronze in the junior race two years ago, might not be in their best form.

At the Ethiopian Cross Country Championships seven weeks ago, they only finished fourth and sixth respectively in a race won by 2:06:17 marathon runner Tamirat Tola.

Gebrhiwet’s form is difficult to gauge, as he has only raced once since the track season, although Edris did rebound a fortnight later with a win at the famous Cinque Mulini race.

Atsedu Tsegay, who broke Haile Gebrselassie’s Ethiopian half marathon record three years ago with 58:47, is also on the team.

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 27 – Kenya threw a 14-0 half-time lead to go down 21-14, once again to former head coach Mike Friday’s USA in their opening Pool D fixture at the sixth round of Rugby Sevens World Series in Hong Kong on Friday afternoon.

Felix Ochieng’ charges began on a high with two quick first half tries through the country’s record try scorer Collins Injera who took his tally to 191 before skipper Andrew Amonde doubled the lead on the hooter to enable Friday’s men trail 14-0 at the break.

USA recovered in the second half to punish Kenya on the break down when they grounded three times through Maka Unufe, Carlin Isles and Danny Barrett to leave the Kenyans with a must win fixture against England on Saturday morning at 6:12am to revive their chances of reaching a second Main Cup quarter-final this season.

In the early kick-off, England beat Wales 26 -19 to join the Americans top of the group with three points apiece.

The loss saw Kenya fail to beat their 2011-2012 head coach, Friday for the third time this season, after going down 5-12 in Dubai and 5-33 at South Africa’s Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens.

Ochieng who started veteran Humphrey Kayange on the bench took control of the first period, completing 19-0 passes before vice captain Injera who missed Las Vegas to welcome his second child returning with a bang in his central role when he burst from open space to give Kenya an early lead.

Shujaa almost conceded an easy try when Perry Baker intercepted Lavin Asego’s pass only for the American to waste the chance when he knocked the ball down for referee Anthony Moyes to restart the game.

Kenya had a great build up from the resultant scrum to finish a nine-phase try through Amonde, who received Patrice Agunda’s pass and ran inside the 22-metre line for his 27th career try.

USA showed great character when they resumed, locking out Kenyans run and ensure they didn’t add any try.

Maka Unufe pulled one back seconds after restart from a solo try before Carlin Isles restored parity three minutes when he picked the ball from the scrum to breakthrough inside his own half for his 50th career try.

Shujaa once again conceded a foul that enabled Danny Barrett run in on the right to go over for a successful conversion and give his side 24-21 lead as Kenya’s last-gasp effort to try and salvage a point went up in smoke.

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 28 – Kenya dropped to the Bowl after suffering their second pool D match 17-7 to England in the sixth round of the Rugby World Sevens Series in Hong Kong on Saturday morning.

Vice captain and the country’s record scorer Collins Injera, grounded the only try for Kenya with England who collected their second win finding their tries through Tom Bowell, James Rodwell and Phil Burgess.

Felix Ochieng charges will know their opponents in the Bowl after they play their final preliminary fixture against Wales at 10: 12am who have also lost two matches after going down 40-12 to Mike Friday’s USA.

Kenya who began the match lively seeking to bounce back from Friday’s 21-24 defeat to USA, lost possession in the fourth minute after conceding a penalty at the centre, to see England restart the build-up brilliantly to enable Bowel open the scoring from a well crafted unconverted try from the left corner.

The English men continued with their dominance, managing to break through the Kenyan defence once again to ground their second unconverted try through Rodwell who powered Daniel Sikuta to ground the set piece try from the left corner as Shujaa trailed 10-0 at the break.

Injera brought back Kenya into the game on resumption when he dispossessed England’s Marcus Watson from the rack, to exploit space and power to the try line for his second try of the tournament and 192nd career try, Lavin Asego converted to cut the deficit to 10-7.

Asego would then release Billy Odhiambo down the left flank, Odhiambo gaining thirty meters but his rash final delivery to his support player was punished by England who intercepted the pass to extend the lead through Burgess counter attack try as Tom Mitchell converted for the full time result.

GUIYANG, March 28- Geoffrey Korir and Alfred Ngeno settled for the lesser medals when Ethiopia’s Yasin Haji denied Kenya the gold with a devastating late turn of speed as the junior men 8km race unfolded at the Guiyang World Cross on Saturday morning.

Haji stalked Korir and Ngeno as well as fourth finisher Dominic Kiptarus who led at the bell in a Kenyan 1-2-3 before he disengaged himself from the leader to hold on to the crown won by compatriot Hagos Gebrehiwet in Poland two years ago.

It was a painful second successive loss for the Kenyans in the race for individual honours here in the cold, cloudy and wet morning in Guiyang as Haji broke away to complete the hard course in 23:42.

“The course was hilly just like home but the guy never took up front running and at the last corner, I just saw him go past, he used the Kenyans (as rabbits). We shall return home to figure out how we lost, they came ready for us this team and we need to find out how to stop them.

“I was not sure of the win as long as he was around. I will return home to plot my next move,” Korir who bagged the second medal five second in arrears said at the finish.

“It was very tough in the last 500m, I struggled to keep up. It was too hilly and cold and that made us struggle. I’m delighted for the bronze medal and next time, I will aim for gold,” Ngeno who rounded the podium in 23:54 told.

“I can’t tell of the joy, It’s incredible for me and my country,” the winner, drapped in their flag said through a translator.

- Individual strength-

Unlike the preceding women’s 6km race, the Kenyan sextet in the junior 8km showdown initially stuck together as a team with Kiptarus taking early charge before Ngeno and Korir took their turn to push the pace in the opening half of the race with the eventual champion in close attendance in the box.

Naturalised Kenyan, Evans Rutto Chematot of Bahrain who was fifth (24:03), Uganda’s Joshua Kipkurui and the rest of the Ethiopians followed suit before Korir stepped up the pace in the closing half of the race to leave four Kenyans and Haji poised for the medals.

As Kiptarus fell further back after the bell, it was Korir who had assumed the lead, Ngeno and Haji for the top medal and with the last straight in sight, the Ethiopian shifted through the high gears to race clear for victory.

With it, Ethiopia made it two out of two in the individual honours after Letesenbet Gidey took the honours in the junior women 6km.

Kenya won the team gold to level the score with Ethiopia who ran away with the junior 6km women title.

-Mutwiri Mutuota is reporting from Guiyang

GUIYANG, March 28- Agnes Jebet Tirop salvaged the reputation and pride of her nation when she destroyed the field in a commanding front running performance to ascend to the senior women 8km title in style at the IAAF Guiyang World Cross in China on a chilly Saturday morning.

Tirop, who watched from the sidelines as the archenemy, Ethiopia celebrated both women and junior titles took it upon herself to sustained Kenya’s celebrated distance running tradition when she stopped the clock in 26:01 for glory.

With her teammates and Team Kenya contingent licking their wounds at the Qingzhen Training base after losing the first two individual gold medals to Ethiopian pair, Yasin Haji and Letsenbet Dida, Tirop heeded the call to be her nation’s heroin in emphatic fashion.

“It was good out there, first I want to thank God because I was not expecting to win gold and I prayed to Him for strength.

“I saw the Ethiopians behind and I decided to push the pace so that they can catch up with me at the front. I never wanted to go past me and run from the front. After watching the junior races, I was not scared because I knew God was with me.

“When I saw the Ethiopians take them, I told my God, if you have planned for us to win, so be it. I’m so happy, I put God first and asked him to lead me,” Tirop who was making her senior debut at the World Cross having won silver in Poland two years ago said, scarcely believing what she had just achieved.

Ethiopian pair, Senbere Tefari (26:06) and Netsanet Gudeta (26:11) followed the African junior cross champion home for silver and bronze with Alemite Heroye (26:14) fourth on another good outing for their nation as outgoing World Cross champion; Emily Chebet (26:18) came home sixth behind compatriot, Stacy Ndiwa (26:16).

- Front running-

Tirop, a close friend of two-time World Junior champion, Faith Chepng’etich, absent here due to injury carried the promise she made at the team’s camp in Kigari, Embu to carry her mantle.

Employing the same front running technique she used to good effect to finish behind Chepng’etich at the Kenya Trials in Nairobi on February 18, the new World Cross senior women champion, remarkably still only 19, had save for the opening two kilometres, had an obstructed view to the finish.

At half way, she crossed through ahead of the pack that had Gudeta, Heroye, Irene Cheptai (26:26/seventh), Teferi, Ndiwa, Oljira and the two-time champion Chebet in her slipstream in that order.

Tirop led Teferi, Gudeta and Muge at the bell before the front pair surged ahead of the chasing duo at the last kilometre.

With 600m to go, the teenager uncorked the decisive turn of pace to drop Teferi and spark almost manic celebrations among the Kenyan contingent here as the elusive gold was finally home.

-Mutwiri Mutuota is reporting from Guiyang, China

GUIYANG, March 28- A superlative display of team work delivered the most coveted prize at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Guiyang, China when Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor led Bedan Karoki for the 1-2 in the senior men 12km race.

In winning the Holy Grail of the World Cross on a cold, wet and humid Saturday morning at the Quingzhen Training Base, Kipsang became the sixth Kenyan in a roll of honour that reads John Ngugi, Paul Tergat (both five-time winners), William Sigei (two-time winner), Joseph Ebuya and outgoing titleholder, Japheth Korir who was not here to defend his crown.

But even the champion who completed the twisting, hilly and difficult course with heavy underfoot in 34:52 paid glowing tribute to his teammate, Karoki who took silver in 35 minutes dead as the pair worked together from the off to grind down the competition, with Ethiopia’s bronze winner Muktar Edris (35:06) the last man standing, in a performance that earned round praise from jubilant Kenyans.

It was the spectacular golden ending to a day that started with Kenya being taken to the cleaners by their archrivals in the opening junior races before Agnes Tirop struck back with a solo victory in the senior women race as Kamworor, who adds the World Cross title to the World Half Marathon and 2011 World Cross junior gold medals put the icing on the cake.

“The race was very competitive but we teamed up with Karoki to the very end. We are very happy to have won gold and silver. We had planned to run together and we have shown and done it and we celebrate as a team.

“We thank God we made it, we pushed the pace high until we won. I won the World Juniors in 2011 and the World Half last year and today, I’m very happy since it is hard to win a medal. I’m going straight away to prepare for the World Championships,” the freshly minted king of the World Cross declared.

“We were working as a team and we have made it. I’m very happy to get a medal, I challenged in the Olympics and World Championships and never made it but today, I have won silver and I’m so happy,” the beaming Karoki, arms across the shoulder of the winner added.

“When we run 10km, we saw we had opened a big gap after we helped each other over the hills and from there, we had decided whoever wins it, we will not mind. We are targeting the World Championships and if we help each other, we can do what we did here,” the Japan based national champion who announced he would eye the 10,000m squad for the summer Worlds in Beijing alongside Kipsang told.

Head coach, David Letting was effusing praise for the duo that helped Kenya to once again rule the now biennial global showpiece by claiming the biggest prize on offer.

“It is the first time to finish 1-2 in the senior men. We planned for them to run as a team and we are glad it worked. We had told them to stay in front and whoever wins has done it for Kenya. We did not point out any individual,” the veteran of ten years with the squad explained.

- Tactical master class-Like all the three races that preceded the signature race, the senior 12km was a straight battle between the Kenyans and Ethiopians, with their representatives setting themselves apart from the first kilometre with only naturalised Bahrainis, Qataris and Ugandans keeping in touch.

By the second kilometre, Kenya’s game plan was laid out at the course for all to see when Kamworor, a two-time third finisher at Berlin Marathon in 2013 and 14 used his powerful engine to go to the front and push the pace.

Karoki, who beat him to the tape at the Trials in Nairobi, was in close attendance with the feared Ethiopian 5000m speedsters, Hagos Gebrhiwet, the junior champion from 2013 and Mukhtar Edris, a World Junior track champion forming the main threat.

Karoki led them through the midway point with Kamworor a step back ahead of the Ethiopian duo of Edris, Tamirat Tola their national champion with another Japan based Kenyan and African Cross champion, Leonard Barsoton rounding the top four.

Karoki-Kamworor, Kamworor-Karoki, Karoki-Kamworor, Kamworor-Karoki took turns to hit the front with Edris keeping close attendance as Barsoton who claimed a commendable fourth finish in 35:15 fell further back as at the 10km mark.

After shadow boxing with the Ethiopia challenger who was feared for his 5000m track pace, Edris was dispensed with shortly after to leave an internal competition for gold for the Kenyans.

Running side by side, stride for stride, Kamworor and Karoki were a joy to watch for the next kilometre and a half before the winner made his move, a side way glance signalling his intention before he used his superior finishing speed to cap the glory before waiting for his comrade-at-arms for a crushing embrace at the tape in another gripping sporting moment.

With that, it was honours even between Kenya and Ethiopia who took home four gold medals each as they laid a marker for the next edition in Kampala, two years from now.

-Mutwiri Mutuota is reporting from Guiyang, China

GUIYANG, March 28- Head coach David Letting has called on authorities to launch investigations into alleged death threats on junior women 6km runner, Winfred Nzisa Mbithe who finished 10th at Guiyang World Cross on Saturday.

Letting disclosed the startling threats were communicated through her phone when the team was still in residential camp in Kigari, Embu blaming them for destabilised the junior 6km squad that lost heavily to Ethiopia.

“There is something I want to say about the junior women. There was somebody who called and threatened Mbithe telling her if she wins, she will not return home alive.

“Authorities should investigate who made the phone call. Before we left Kigari, someone called at night and when it was reported in the morning, we tried to call back, the guy had locked his phone and we reported to (Athletics Kenya vice-president) Paul Mutwii,” Letting disclosed the disturbing claims.

“I believe the threats affected the whole team because as juniors, they can easily be scared,” he added saying they decided not to announce the development to avoid deflating the entire team.

Running in the opening race of the day, Mbithe took early charge of proceedings before compatriot Daisy Jepkemei went to the front only for the Ethiopian trio of Letesenbet Gidey (19:48), Dera Dida (19:49) and Etagegn Woldu (19:53) claimed all the medals and with Mihret Tefera finishing fifth, team gold went to them as well.

Jepkemei (19:59) prevented the perfect 10 score by finishing fourth with Mbithe, coming home in 20:13 on her World Cross debut rounded the top ten.

Ethiopia last won the 6km women’s world title in 2009 through 3000m World Indoor record holder, Genzebe Dibaba in Amman, Jordan.

-Mutwiri Mutuota is reporting from Guiyang

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 28 – AFC Leopards suffered their first loss of the season after going down 1-0 to Ulinzi Stars in a Kenyan Premier League encounter played at Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium on Saturday.

Boniface Onyango netted the winner for the Soldiers in the sixth minute from a close range header to give Ulinzi their second successive victory and climb fifth on six points, a point behind Leopards who dropped to fourth.

In the early kick-off at the same venue, Western Stima beat struggling Nakuru All Stars 1-0 with Fredrick Shimonyo scoring the lone goal in the 56th that propelled Stima to second on nine points same as leaders Gor Mahia who have a game at hand.

Elsewhere, Raymond Ochieng grabbed a hat-trick as Wycliffe Opondo found the target to help Thika United bounce back and beat visiting Muhoroni Youth 4-2 at the Thika Sub County Stadium. Former Gor forward Anthony Nyangor scored a brace for the Sugar Millers.

All focus was on Leopards who had started finding their form despite facing financial challenges that have seen their players take to the field without two month salary and bonus arrears.

“This is our third game in seven days and fatigue overwhelmed us, our players could not move properly and that’s due to lack of proper pre-season. We entered the match without our two starters, Musa Mude and Austin Ikenna since they had personal problems but we are guilty we didn’t convert our chances.

“I saw poor officiating, Kenyan football will never grow, Ulinzi wasted a lot of time and the referee did nothing not even stopping the time,” Leopards head coach Zdravko Logarusic, declared after losing his first match since joining the club last month.

His opposite number Robert Matano, hailed his charges for the win, “We were composed and tactically superior than Leopards. We ensured they didn’t make their runs in the space because they have quality and speedy players who are good at that.”

Ingwe who entered the clash seeking a win that could have seen them topple arch rivals Gor on the standings, had a poor outing after being outplayed by the hosts who ripped apart their leaking defence.

The opening five minutes was an end to end action and it was the visitors who pulled the trigger first with Burundian, Emmanuel Ngama coming close in the second minute when he outpaced two defenders to unleash a right footed shot that went straight in the hands of Ulinzi keeper James Saruni.

Four minutes later, Onyango scored his first goal of the season and give Matano an early lead when he headed past Leopards custodian Wycliffe Kasaya from an Oliver Ruto header.

The hosts could double the lead in the 10th when Ezekiel Seda was booked for hacking down Oscar Wamalwa at the edge of the box, only for John Nairuka to squander the resultant free-kick that was blocked.

Left-back Abdallah Juma came to Leopards’ rescue in the 19th when he headed away Nairuka’s cross that had already beaten Kasaya who was exposed after defender Martin Kiiza miscued his clearance.

Logarusic solidified his midfield by bringing on Clement Kabemba for Seda while Mude came on for skipper Jackson Saleh who picked a knock.

The last chance for the military side in the first period came at the half hour mark through Nairuka who broke through from the right to drive in, only for him to miss the target when he went for glory as Wamalwa was on the goal mouth eagerly waiting to tap in.

Three minutes to the breather, Leopards got their second chance through Jacob Keli who unleashed a thunderbolt that troubled Saruni who recovered to deny the 2013 Player of the Year the equaliser and his third of the season.

Wamalwa and Ezekiel Otuoma wasted several open chances on resumption that could have seen Ulinzi add three more goals whilst on the other end Saruni denied Juma the leveler from a well taken free-kick.

The league continues Sunday with Chemelil Sugar taking on KCB in an early kick-off at Nairobi’s City Stadium before Tusker FC entertains Nairobi City Stars at the same venue.

Ushuru will be away to Sony Sugar at Awendo’s Green Stadium.

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 29 –Fly-half Lavin Asego grounded a brace of tries to send Kenya to the Shield final, following their 21-0 victory over Portugal at the sixth round of HSBC Sevens World Series in Hong Kong on Sunday.

Felix Ochieng charges who won their first march of the tournament will face Japan in the final.

After six minutes of dead lock, Collins Injera opened the scoring on the hooter from skipper Andrew Amonde’s brilliant build up to breakthrough and touch behind the post for his 193rd career try as Asego converted for a 7-0 lead at the interval.

Shujaa continued where they left on resumption with Asego doubling the lead from the breakdown before completing his brace three minutes to the final whistle when he dashed from his try line to ground his 53rd career try before converting for the final scores.

-relegation-

Kenya were relegated to the Shield competition after going down 21-10 to Canada in the Bowl quarter-final.

Kenya who were seeking their first win of the tournament began the final day on a high that saw them complete 15-0 passes in the opening five minutes where Amonde, broke the deadlock after dispossessing the Canadian to turn over his second try of the competition as Asego missed the conversion for a 5-0 lead.

The Canadians regained to ground two tries in the first-half with Harry Jones cancelling Kenya’s lead when Lucas Hammond set him to break through and score in between the sticks before converting to see Kenya trail by two points.

John moonlight extended the lead for Canada on the hooter after Mike Fualefau set him from a Michael Wanjala tackle that left the Strathmore University man limping off at the break.

Ochieng who started with veteran Humphrey Kayange, introduced Bush Mwale, Dan Sikuta and Tonny Owuor on the restart with the changes paying immediately as youngster Mwale powered through to the whitewash and reduce the deficit by four points.

Shujaa’s hopes of making a comeback suffered a blow when Canada’s substitute Sean White picked the ball from the line-out to dart Kenyan defence and go over for a 21-10 final score.

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 29 – Two first-half goals from Jesse Were was all that Tusker FC needed to beat Nairobi City Stars 2-1 in a Kenyan Premier League match played at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.

Were gave the Brewers an early lead in the third minute after capitalizing on City Stars defensive lapse before completing his brace from the spot in the 36th.

Substitute Joseph Sakwa scored the consolation for the Kawangware based side who are yet to register a win.

In the early kick-off, David Ojuang was on target to help visiting Chemelil Sugar overcome KCB 1-0 whist at the Awendo’s Green Stadium, Sony Sugar defeated Ushuru FC by the same margin with Samuel Onyango scoring the winner.

Tusker’s win saw head coach Francis Kimanzi who maintained his winning squad against Ulinzi Stars, pick his second successive win and ascend to fifth on the log on seven points.

“It seemed to be easier in the first-half because we had very little challenge from the opponent so it was not easy for us to keep the tempo up, but in the second-half they pushed more and gave us urgency to score. We are happy we have another win so we are coming back slowly,” Kimanzi stated after the win.

On the other hand, City Stars head coach, Paul Nkata conceded defeat but warned they will be a hard nut to crack in the coming matches.

“We started poorly and concede an early goal that demoralized our boys but after settling in the second-half, we pulled up and nearly equalized. We will to be a difficult side to beat in the coming matches.”

Arthur Museve gifted the Brewers an early lead when the defender deflected Kevin Kimani’s through pass that found Were in front of goal and made no mistake to punish the hosts from a close range tap in.

Tusker could have doubled the lead seven minutes later when Biran Osumba played a one-two with former Gor Mahia forward, Patrick Oboya but the latter went for glory as Were was in the goal mouth waiting to tap in.

Kimani forced Odhiambo to parry his long range cracker at the half hour mark but could not stop Were’s second goal five minutes later, when the captain was fouled in the box by Samuel Wailer to see referee Amos Ichingwa award Tusker the penalty that was well converted by the 2013 Golden Boot runners-up.

The brewers came close through Osumba who headed Kimani’s swinger inches wide before City Stars skipper Oscar Mbugua was booked for assimilation when he claimed a penalty from Humphrey Mieno’s tackle on the stroke of half-time.

City Stars upped their game on resumption with Nkata introducing Sakwa for Wailer and the changes were felt immediately when the latter pulled one back from a long range thunderous shot that was deflected by Tusker defender to beat keeper Faruk Shikhalo.

Sakwa was at it again in the 84th but this time Shikhalo denied him a brace that could have seen City Stars salvage a point.

MIAMI, March 30 – Fernando Verdasco upset second seed Rafael Nadal 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 Sunday in a third-round matchup of Spaniards to advance at the ATP and WTA Miami Open.

Nadal, a four-time Miami runner-up, leaves the Masters Series hardcourt event without a title again this year after his 11th appearance.

Verdasco, ranked 34th, defeated Nadal for the second time in a row after losing their first 13 meetings, although that most recent prior meeting came three years ago in Madrid.

“Obviously always beating a player like Rafa is one of the biggest victories that you can have in tennis,” Verdasco said. “It’s a huge victory and it’s always really nice to play in an almost packed stadium against one of the best players in history.”

Also advancing with victories Sunday were world number one Serena Williams and Britain’s Andy Murray.

Nadal saved a match point in the eighth game of the second set trailing 5-2, but Verdasco closed out the shocker a game later with a return winner.

The 14-time grand slam champion said after the defeat that his formerly untouchable game needs work and the mental side may now be his weak link.

“I need to fix again the nerves, the self control on court. It’s not a tough issue to fix. I’m going to keep trying,” Nadal said.

“I’m practicing with the right attitude, I think. I’m arriving in an important part of the season for me (clay). I didn’t want arrive to that part of the season with that loss of today, obviously, but that part of the season will arrive.”

Nadal, who will seek his sixth French Open title in a row in two months and bid for his 10th crown overall on the red clay of Roland Garros, says he will work on his control no matter how long it takes to recover his top form.

“I’ve been able to be under control, control my emotions during, let’s say, 90 percent of my matches, something that today is being tougher to be under self control,” Nadal said.

“But I’m going to fix it. I don’t know if in one week, in six months, or in one year, but I’m going to do it.”

Verdasco said he tried to remember how he played in the first set as he fought back after losing the second.

“I tried to play back again as I was the first set. I tried to keep calm and be aggressive, but of course at the same time you cannot be too aggressive,” Verdasco said. “It was very windy, and many times you need to adjust.”

- Murray takes 499th win -

Murray won his 499th career match, downing Colombian Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-4 to reach the fourth round.

The 27-year-old Scotsman, winner of the title in 2009 and 2013, would become the ninth active player to reach 500 victories if he wins his next match against South Africa’s Kevin Anderson, who eliminated Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 6-4.

“I obviously want to try and win more, and hopefully still have quite a few years ahead of me left to add to that number. It’s a lot of wins. It’s not easy these days to win that many matches, so that’s a good sign,” said Murray.

In women’s play, Williams crushed a teen less than half her age, defeating American Catherine Bellis 6-1, 6-1.

The 15-year-old challenger was no match for the 33-year-old Williams, a 19-time Grand Slam champion bidding for a record eighth trophy here.

Bellis, the junior world number one, found herself in a major test against the game’s current dominator in her first WTA appearance since the US Open.

World number one Williams is competing in Miami for the 15th time since debuting as a teenager herself in 1998, a year before Bellis was born.

- Serena win streak at 14 -

Williams will next face Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, a winner over German 13th seed Angelique Kerber 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Aiming for a third consecutive Miami title, Williams stretched her win streak to 14 matches at Crandon Park. Her career Miami record now stands at 69-7.

Williams wrapped up the affair in 41 minutes with 15 winners and five breaks of the prodigy’s serve. Bellis committed 21 unforced errors.

“If you break down her age and her ability and how well I think she handled the moment and how well she played, I think it was good,” Williams said.

Third seed Simona Halep defeated Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-5 to continue the momentum she took from last week’s title at Indian Wells.

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 30 –Fresh from winning the IAAF senior men World Cross title, Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor is aiming to add a 10,000m World Championships crown to his honours, on the track this summer.

The Half Marathon champion declared on Monday when the team arrived to a warm reception at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from Guiyang, China where they finished second behind rivals Ethiopia after collecting two individual gold and junior men team title, against two individual and three team titles.

Family and friends who awaited them for over four hours, burst to song, cheer and dance as is custom when the team emerged from the tunnel to be welcomed by Sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch and Athletics Kenya officials.

The team was taken to a victory tour where the caravan snaked through Mombasa Road, Jogoo Road, Central Business District before turning to Lang’ata Road where they were hosted to a luncheon by the federation.

Almost a year after winning his first senior global title at the 2014 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen, Kamworor got the Kenyan national anthem played in his honour once again at one of the biggest events in the sport when he completed the twisting, hilly and difficult Guiyang course in 34:52, eight seconds ahead of compatriot Bedan Karoki who took silver.

“I feel great being crowned champion because I had high expectations. Our aim was to defend the title and win silver, that’s why Karoki and I helped each other to burn the Ethiopians. When we remained the two of us it was now any ones race.

“I’ve won the World Cross and World Half Marathon so I’m now targeting to win the 10,000m in Beijing. I was happy to be invited to the sales of tickets of the World Championships to see the venue, that motivated me to work harder,” Kamworor who will gauge his fitness at Prefontaine Classic IAAF Diamond League in May underscored.

Kamworor will be looking to reclaim the title last won by Charles Kimathi 15years ago, the feat that evaded legendary Paul Tergat who won five successive World Cross titles and held world marathon record from 2003 to 2007.

Tergat settled for silver at 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney World Championships after memorable battles over 25 laps with the Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie who won gold in both events.

Kamworor, doesn’t need to worry about a qualifying time, with the top 15 in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships having an automatic qualifying mark for the 10,000m in Beijing, but he does want to produce a performance that will establish him as a legitimate medal contender on a surface in the June National Trials.

Karoki on the other hand was content with silver despite beating Kamworor at the National Championships held in Nairobi February.

“I’m very happy to finish in the podium because this was my first World Cross and I had tension since I’m the national champion. The Ethiopians kept us on toes but our team work helped us contain them.

“In the last lap we opened the gap to compete amongst ourselves but I couldn’t make it because I used a lot of energy in the opening three laps but Kamworor had a strong kick.

“I will run one half marathon for endurance then go for either 3000m or 5000m in the Diamond League before competing at the World Championships trials in the 10,000m,” Karoki stated.

-Tirop eyes worlds-Women’s 8km champion, Agnes Tirop who graduated to the senior ranks in style, said he did not expect to win gold in the race that had experienced runners, including defending champion and compatriot Emily Chebet.

“The win came as a surprise but thank God for it. I will go back to training to maintain the shape and God willing I will try my lack at 5000 world championships trials.”

Chebet who failed to enter into history books as the third woman in history to win the coveted women’s long race title thrice in the footsteps of Norwegian legend and five-time winner, Grete Waitz and three-time winner, Ethiopian titan, Tirunesh Dibaba said she will bounce back in 2017.

“The race was good though was cold and hilly but I can’t complain because we were running as a team. It’s disappointing to lose the title but I’m happy it was won by a Kenyan so we are all winners. I will now prepare for Beijing World Championships and try to win the 10,000m,” Chebet, commonly known as Kericho express told Capital Sport.

-Good outing-

Head coach, David Letting who hailed his charges for the performance said in-experience cost them in the women junior race where Ethiopia scooped a podium sweep.

“It was the best performance because winning gold and silver in the senior men it’s not a joke and it has not been done before by Kenyans.

“When you go to a race its either you win or lose, Ethiopians were too super for our girls who were young with only one who had competed in the event before.

“We missed Faith Chepng’etich who was ruled out after picking injury in training because it was supposed to be 1- 2.”

His sentiments were echoed by Daisy Jepkemoi who finished fourth.

“The race was difficult, Ethiopians were too good but I did my best. In the last lap I thought my team-mates were behind me, only to realize they were all Ethiopians, I didn’t get any support. I’m now focusing for the next event in Uganda.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 31 – Football Kenya Federation president, Sam Nyamweya is among those named in the confidential dossier prepared by Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) and submitted to parliament by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Nyamweya is alleged to have embezzled federation funds however; the report cites the matter as being under investigation.

However, in response to the matter, Nyamweya dismissed the EACC probe on the federation, claiming the report is misleading to purport investigate the management of FKF because it’s not a State agency.

“It is common knowledge that FKF is not a State agency and its officials are thus not State officers as per the law. It is in the public domain that allegations of impropriety were made to EACC by suspended officials.

“However, before conclusion of the probe, the complainants withdrew and apologized claiming to have misled to files the charges. It’s therefore misleading for EACC to purport to be investigating the management of football affairs or its leadership,” Nyamweya said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Head of State submitted the dossier to parliament on Thursday after delivering his State of the nation address and called on those mention to leave office for 60 days to facilitate investigations.

Suspended FKF officials, vice president Sammy Shollei and Coast NEC member Hussein Terry as well as his Nyanza counterpart Tom Alila, filed the case to EACC accusing the federation for misappropriation of funds from annual world governing body Fifa’s grant.

A year later, Terry dropped the case after touring Fifa headquarters in Zurich saying he was advised by the world governing body to settle the dispute in the court of Arbitration.