Athletics Kenya has denied foul play in locking out two athletes from the team to IAAF World Youth Championships to Donetsk, Ukraine.
The athletes protested even as AK was still smarting from age cheating scandal that marred the first day of the national selections at Nyayo National Stadium on Tuesday.
But Jack Tuwei, the AK Vice President in charge of youth development, said it was impossible for the federation to bend the rules.
“The athletes qualified, but we usually look at the world rankings in our selection process. If you check the world rankings, you will realise there is a wide gap between our sprint athletes and the others,” said Tuwei, a retired Lieutenant General.
“As a committee, we normally seek advice from our technical team on the possibilities of attaining good results and also rely on their advice,” he said.
Tuwei said AK has placed the affected athletes on their data bank, and will be considered for future youth events.
“We have identified them and have them in our data bank. We had no records on their performance. And should any youth championship come up, we will definitely enter them,” he said.
AK’s move to lock the athletes out attracted criticism from far and wide, with some federation’s officials faulting it.
On Wednesday, Geoffrey Kipkoech (400m) and Anastacia Kanini (400m hurdles) protested at AK’s decision to exclude them from the Ukraine-bound squad despite having attained the IAAFqualifying times.
Kipkoech, who is from Nairobi’s Riruta Central, qualified in 400m hurdles in 51.3, hitting the 55.80 World Youth qualifying mark but was excluded.
Kanini, from Machakos, surpassed the qualifying mark of 57.60 after winning in 400m in 56.60.
The two wailed uncontrollably before the AK chiefs and ministry of educations officials after they were ruled out.
“What wrong have I done to you God, that you can deny me a place in the national team?” Kanini said amid sobs.
The 17-year-old Kipkoech too burst into tears.
“It is sad that I can be denied a place in the team,” he cried.
Women’s 200m winner Maureen Thomas from Nyanza South also broke into tears upon realising she had been locked out.
Earlier on, AK locked out six over-age athletes from competing in 1,500m boys final.
They included Herman Kibet, Richard Kirwa, Mathew Kiptanui, Nicholas Rongoei and Samuel Njoroge.
By JONATHAN KOMEN, The Standard
