Kipyegon Bett, the Kenyan 800m bronze medalist at the 2017 World Championships in London, died at the age of 26 due to kidney and liver failure. Bett first gained international attention in 2016 after winning gold at the World Under-20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. He was seen as one of Kenya’s best middle-distance runners.
In 2018, Bett’s career suffered a major setback when he was suspended for testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO), a banned performance-enhancing substance. He denied any wrongdoing. After serving his ban in 2022, Bett struggled with mental health problems, including depression and alcohol addiction, according to his sister.
Bett was hospitalized in Kericho last week and readmitted when his condition deteriorated. His death underlines the challenges facing Kenyan athletics, particularly with regard to doping. More than 70 Kenyan athletes have been banned in the last three years. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recently expressed its concern about significant cuts to the budget of the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), which could have an impact on the fight against doping in the country.