Paris, Aug 23: Kenyan-turned-Qatari Stephen Cherono will set the pace in the first major controversy of the World Athletics Championships, which start here today. The 20-year-old, favourite for the 3,000 metres steeplechase, the heats of which get underway later in the day, has caused a storm in the athletics world by ditching his African colours in favour of the oil and gas rich Persian Gulf state.
But his decision, which will see him running under his new Arabic name of Saif Saeed Shaheen in exchange for 1,000 dollars a month, has been widely condemned even attracting the wrath of IOC president Jacques Rogge. "From a moral point of view we should avoid this transfer market in athletes," said Rogge.
"What we don't like is athletes being lured by large incentives by other countries and giving them a passport when they arrive at the airport," he said. Secretary of Athletics Kenya, David Okeyo, said Cherono and 22-year-old Albert Chepkurui, who has also switched allegiances, had gone behind the backs of Kenyan officials.
"Our hands were tied since the two athletes had already acquired Qatari citizenship, without informing us," said Okeyo.
"We have been forced to abide by the IAAF rule 12.10, which although barring an athlete from running for an adopted country until he completes a mandatory three year period, it can still be reduced to one year on agreement between the two federations," he said. Bureau Report