KENYAN running great Kip Keino has denied wrongdoing in his country’s Olympic corruption scandal and did not appear in court as expected yesterday.
Prosecutors have been given more time to investigate if he was involved in the misuse of more than $545,000.
Keino, whose 1500m victory in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics sparked decades of athletics success for the nation, was one of seven Kenyan Olympic and government officials initially accused by prosecutors of corruption and abuse of office relating to money for Kenya’s team at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
But he is the only one yet to be charged.
Three former sports ministry officials, including former minister of sport Hassan Wario, were charged with corruption and abuse of office yesterday. They denied the charges and were released on bail.
The three others were charged on Monday.
Keino’s appearance was delayed, lending weight to speculation that the two-time Olympic champion and honorary IOC member will be a witness in the case and not a defendant.
In the interview earlier, Keino denied wrongdoing, saying he did not have control over any of the more than half a million dollars of government money prosecutors say was embezzled and misappropriated.
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