Athletes in trouble

Press, 21 August 1978, Page 6

Athletes in trouble

NZPA-Reuter Nairobi The Kenya Amateur Athletic Association is considering banning five of its top track stars from competing in Europe because they took part in an invitation meeting at Zurich earlier this week without its permission, an association official said yesterday. The athletes are the Commonwealth Games 800 m gold medallist Mike Boit, rhe 50C0 and 10,000 metre silver medallist Michael Musyoki, the African Games 110 m hurdles geld medallist Fatwell Kimayo, the African Games 1500 m silver medallist Wilson Waigwa, and the long-distance star, Joel Cheruiyot — all students In the United States. "We have been having similar problems in the past with

our athletes who are based In the United States. There must be some action to shdw them that we are supposed to control their participation in overseas meets," the official told Reuter. The five athletes involved competed again in Berlin on Saturday, and this too was without the association's permission, the official said. They broke off from a party returning home from the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton in defiance of a K.A.A.A. objection, he added. Henry Rono, holder of four world records and winner of gold medals in the 3000 m steeplechase and 5000 m at Edmonton, received permission before he competed at the Zurich meeting, the K.A.A.A. officials said.