Kenya disband their Olympic committee amid mismanagement claims
By Reuters
Last Updated: 25/08/16 4:10pm
Kenya's government has disbanded its National Olympics Committee (NOC-K) because of their poor handling of Kenya's Olympic team.
Kenya team captain Wesley Korir has revealed most Kenyan team members are still in Rio de Janeiro waiting for flights back home and staying in a run-down part of the city following the end of the Games last Sunday.
Sports minister Hassan Wario has set up a committee to investigate the misconduct and it will report its findings by the end of September.
"There was alleged mismanagement of the facilitation of our athletes and the entire team Kenya ranging from accommodation and travel mishaps, mishandling of the accreditation of the list of participants to the provision of kits that never reached the athletes," Wario told a news conference.
"I do hereby disband the National Olympic Committee with immediate effect and transfer their responsibilities to the Sports Kenya as the interim custodian."
Before the Games, Korir berated local Olympic committee officials, saying they needed better management, payment of pending allowances and an immediate end to alleged harassment of athletes by anti-doping officials.
Francis Paul, NOC-K's secretary general, said his organisation would consult with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over the decision.
"We are going to inform the International Olympic Committee to investigate the matter. We shall meet and discuss," he told Reuters.
Despite their problems, Kenya enjoyed its most successful Olympics in Rio, winning six gold medals, six silvers and one bronze, all in track and field.
Korir said on Twitter on Thursday most Kenyan team members were still in Rio de Janeiro waiting for flights back home and were staying in a run-down part of the city.
