1,500-meter gold medalist Asbel Kiprop accused of assault
By Stu White
Asbel Kiprop, the gold medalist in the 1,500 meters at the 2008 Olympics and owner of two world championships at the same distance, is being investigated in connection with an assault of a night guard at a bar.
The guard, identified as James Mukuria, claims Kiprop and four other patrons became angry when they were informed that the bar’s drinking hours were over. According to Mukuria, Kiprop and the other men beat him and kicked him in the groin before forcibly entering the bar, using the fact that Kiprop is also a police officer as justification for their actions.
"Kiprop punched me several times on the mouth and kicked me on my private parts saying that he is a police inspector and cannot be questioned by anyone or taken anywhere."
Kiprop is also accused of, upon entry, menacing the bar’s manager with a police-issued pistol.
The 24-year-old runner defended himself to The Standard Digital News:
"We approached the guard (Mukuria) who was manning the main door but we differed sharply. Moments later, he allowed us in after we informed him that we wanted to take dinner. But I was surprised with the lies that was propagated by the media.As a police officer, I am not assigned a gun while not on duty. At the moment, I am only armed with my spikes and training shoes. I do not take alcohol. I am an Olympic champion and I do at all times live to the spirit of Olympic movement of being non-alcoholic."
We will keep you posted as more information is made available.
[Sources: The People/The Standard Digital News]