NAIROBI, Kenya, September 17 – Marathoner Willy Kipruto Chelewa, who competed in the men’s 21km of the Nairobi City Expressway Marathon, has been found dead at his home in Iten.
In a statement, Athletics Kenya (AK) revealed that the athlete was found lifeless at his home after failing to appear for training since Friday last week.
“On Friday, September 13 2024, he trained with his teammates but failed to show up for training on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (September 14-16). This raised concern among his training partners who then opted to look for him at his residence where they found the door locked from inside. When they forced it open, they found his lifeless body lying on the floor near the bedroom door with no visible signs of injury,” the statement indicates.
Police have began investigations into the cause of the death with Chelewa’s body currently at the Iten Mortuary.
“Police from Kaptagat are currently handling the matter and the body is currently at Iten Mortuary,” the federation added.
The road runner was among tens of thousands of athletes at the third edition of the Nairobi City Expressway Marathon on September 8 during which he ran in the men’s 21km.
Kipruto is the second athlete to pass on this month after Uganda’s Rebecca Cheptegei died from multiple burns suffered as a result of a domestic quarrel with her ex-lover.
Cheptegei, who represented her country of birth at the Paris Olympics, was doused in petrol and set ablaze by the estranged lover at her home in Kitale.
Athletics Kenya Media Team
