Former junior world 800m champion Bett dies age 26

Kipyegon Bett, the former world under-20 athletics champion, has passed away at the age of 26 in Bomet, Kenya, following a brief illness. Bett, who made a name for himself as a specialist in the 800 meters, won his junior world title in 2016 and secured a bronze medal at the senior World Championships in London the following year.

Despite his promising career, Bett faced significant setbacks when he received a four-year doping ban in 2018, which severely impacted his ability to compete effectively upon his return to the sport. According to his sister, Purity Kirui, Bett had been suffering from stomach pains for about a month, and doctors ultimately diagnosed him with a liver problem.

“He had been in and out of the hospital,” Kirui explained to BBC Sport Africa. “Last week, we took him to the hospital after he started vomiting blood, and he was admitted. I saw him on Sunday morning, and he told me he was in pain. He asked our dad, who is a pastor, to pray for him because he didn’t feel he would survive. After 12 noon, he passed away. We tried everything to save him, but it’s very painful to lose him.”

Barnaba Korir, an official with Athletics Kenya, reflected on Bett’s talent and personality, describing him as “one of the most talented half-milers” in the world. Korir emphasized that Bett was a “polite, easy-going, and extremely amiable” athlete who made a lasting impression on those around him.

Bett’s promising career was derailed in 2018 when he was sanctioned for anti-doping violations by the Athletics Integrity Unit. Initially suspended in August 2018 for refusing to provide a sample, he later tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO), a prohibited substance used to enhance athletic performance.

Kirui, a celebrated 3,000m steeplechase runner herself, shared the emotional toll Bett’s ban took on him. “When Kipyegon was banned, he started drinking heavily, eating poorly, and suffering from depression,” she recounted tearfully. “We tried to help him, but whenever we suggested rehab, he would go missing for days.”

Bett’s ban ended in August 2022, but he struggled to reclaim his previous status in athletics. “I tried to get him back into athletics when his ban ended by providing him with running gear,” Kirui explained. “Before he died, we had plans to take him to a rehabilitation center in Kisumu one last time.”

Bett was the fourth of six siblings and was inspired to pursue athletics by his sister Purity. “He joined our training group in primary school because of Purity,” said Japheth Kemei, Bett’s coach. “He was a gifted athlete who even beat world record holder David Rudisha in a race, showcasing his immense potential.”

Kemei expressed disappointment that Bett could not return to athletics after his ban, attributing it to various challenges. “Sometimes, once an athlete is banned, it leads to depression and activities that derail an athletic career,” he noted.

The issue of doping remains a pressing concern in Kenyan athletics. The country has invested significantly in anti-doping initiatives since the 2016 Rio Olympics, yet over 70 athletes have faced sanctions in recent years. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has raised alarms about the government’s drastic budget cuts to the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), reducing its operational funding from 288 million Kenyan shillings ($2.32 million) to just 20 million Kenyan shillings ($155,000).

Korir emphasized the long-term consequences of doping on young athletes following Bett’s tragic death. “The impact of doping is always catastrophic, especially for a young and inexperienced athlete,” he warned. “We hope those who introduce such harmful substances to young talents understand the implications and the mental damage they can inflict.”

Bett’s untimely passing serves as a somber reminder of the challenges athletes face both on and off the field. His legacy as a champion will be remembered, even as discussions about doping and its consequences continue to shape the future of sports in Kenya.