Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is in a crucial situation in a Kenyan hospital, after allegedly being doused with petrol by a former boyfriend.
The 33-year-old marathon runner, who competed on the latest Paris Olympics, has suffered burns to over 75% of her physique, police mentioned.
She was attacked at her house in western Kenya, the place she had been coaching.
There are considerations concerning the rising circumstances of violence towards feminine athletes in Kenya, a few of which have resulted in loss of life.
Ms Cheptegei is claimed to have been rescued by neighbours after a former companion allegedly poured petrol on her and set her on fireplace at her house within the small city of Endebess.
The alleged attacker additionally sustained critical burns within the incident that occurred on Sunday, native police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom informed journalists.
The 2 are being handled at Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret, the principle city within the area.
“The couple was heard quarrelling exterior their home. In the course of the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the lady earlier than burning her,” Mr Kosiom was quoted as saying.
Ms Cheptegei, from a area simply throughout the border in Uganda, is claimed to have purchased a bit of land in Trans Nzoia county and constructed a home, to be close to Kenya’s many athletic coaching centres.
A report filed by a neighborhood administrator mentioned the 2 had been wrangling over the piece of land. Police say investigation concerning the matter is beneath manner.
Ms Cheptegei completed forty fourth within the marathon on the latest Paris Olympics.
She additionally gained gold on the World Mountain and Path Operating Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.
In April 2022, one other feminine runner, Damaris Mutua, was found strangled in a house with a pillow over her face within the Rift Valley city of Iten.
It got here months after record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death in the identical city.
Males have additionally been focused.
Final December, one other Ugandan athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat was stabbed to death by assailants in Eldoret.
