Kenyan Steeplechase Champ Accused Of Stabbing Woman Who Wouldn’t Have Sex With Him, Will Still Compete In Olympics

by Matt Rudnitsky | 5:08 pm, June 29th, 2012

If you happen to watch the 3,000-meter steeplechase in this year’s London Olympics, be sure to look out for Ezekiel Kemboi, alleged stabber. The 2004 Olympic-gold winner was accused of stabbing Anne Njeri Otieno when she “declined his sexual advances” upon arriving at her house together following a night of drinking. He was charged at a court in Eldoret, Kenya, where he was released on just $595 bail (but remember, this is the tiny Kenyan economy). Kemboi will return to court in September, but he will be allowed to run in the Olympics.

Her story: They fought for a while after getting to her house, then he went to his car, got a dagger and stabbed her.

His story, though, is a little different: “The attackers drove up in a red car and demanded money from (Kemboi)…one of them aimed the knife at (him) but fortunately it missed (him) and stabbed one of the thugs in the chest.”

Well, that’s confusing. Kemboi’s story seems shady, or perhaps mis-translated. It doesn’t account for how Otiento got stabbed and ended up in the hospital, unless she was the “thug” he was referring to.

So, either this is a major Kenyan celebrity committing a major crime, or a major scandal with the major Kenyan celebrity as the victim. Either way, it’s strange that a man who may have stabbed someone will be competing in the Olympics soon after. If he wins a medal and is later found guilty, would the medal be taken away? What if his medal is the one that propels Kenya to first place in the overall medal count, above the U.S. and China?! (Kidding). All I know is I’m confused, and this is weird. And it’s a heck of a distraction for Kemboi, who’s either worried because he’s guilty, or worried because he’s a victim. Doesn’t seem like a recipe for success.

[BBC]

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