A report from Kenya’s The Nairobian newspaper reports that World and Olympic 1,500-meter champion Asbel Kiprop is accused of kidnapping a minor, brandishing a pistol and threatening to kill Sammary Cherotich, former World Junior 1,500-meter champion and ex-girlfriend of Kiprop. The newspaper report was published without comment from Kiprop or his lawyer. A source close to Kiprop reached out to Flotrack to share Kiprop’s side of the story. 

For starters Kiprop was 19 and she was 16 at the time in which the relationship started. 

Her threat claim: He has ill-tempered, having threatened to kill me on several occasions, most recently on October 17 when he pointed a pistol at me”

The last time Kiprop saw her was on Oct. 2nd at the children’s department office in Eldoret. Kiprop claims that even though he is a police officer in Kenya, he does not have possession of a gun. He has not touched a gun since police training in Isiolo in 2010. He also says he has never beaten Cherotich and everyone that lives and works in his home can attest to that. 

Her injury claim: In 2012, Kiprop physically assaulted her and she injured the area in which she had an operation in the abdomen.

Cherotich’s side: She had an ectopic pregnancy to their second child in 2012. 

She claims Kiprop kidnapped her kid. 

Kiprop’s side: He built and moved into a new house and the kid was staying with him since she went off to military training. She joined the military as they promised to help her get back in shape at an elite level of competition. She did not finish her training and left two weeks prior to graduation. She surprised Kiprop by deciding to race at the Heusden meet in Europe last summer. They argued about her return to racing and she finished last in the women’s 1,500-meter run. This was a turning point in their relationship.

The child was commuting to school from Eldoret and was being picked up and dropped off at school in Kaptinga, which is located six miles away from Kiprop’s home. The World Champion went off to Morocco for the IAAF Continental Cup and upon returning home, he was asked by authorities to discuss his child’s welfare. 

Why is the story coming out now?

In 2010, Cherotich went to his old home and destroyed his television, couch and glass table. The television was given to Kiprop as a gift from Samsung for winning the Diamond League and a silver medal in Beijing. She also damaged his Promising Sportsman of the Year Award. She was upset that he did not answer one of his phone calls. He only reported it to the police station in Langas.

Noting her hot temper, recently Kiprop went to the police to report her as she was looking to remove the child from his home. Kiprop claims he did not file a suit that accuses her of abandoning the child. He hopes to find justice for malicious damage of property and wants to provide better care and schooling for the child than she can provide. 

Kiprop’s lawyers have requested an apology from the Kenyan newspaper. He posted the following message on his Facebook page.