Kipyegon Bett, a former world under-20 track champion, passed away in Bomet, Kenya, at the age of 26, after a brief illness with his cause of death now revealed
After winning his first global title in 2016, the 800-meter specialist Kipyegon Bett finished third in the senior global Championships held in London the following year. But in 2018, he received a four-year doping penalty, which put an end to his career, and upon his comeback, he struggled.
Kenyan runner athlete Kipyegon Bett cause of death reason, biography, age, family and medals list
“He had been sick, complaining of stomach pains for about a month. The doctors said he had a liver problem and had been in and out of hospital,” his sister Purity Kirui told media.
Kenyan athletics star Kipyegon Bett died aged 26 following a month-long illness, having vomited blood due to damage to his internal organs after being admitted to hospital.
“He has been unwell for about a month and had been treated at AIC Litein Hospital as an outpatient. On Saturday, his condition deteriorated and was referred to Tenwek for further tests,” his sister Purity Kirui, the 2014 Commonwealth Games 3,000m steeplechase champion said.
26-year-old Kipyegon Bett was born on 1 February 1998. Bett’’s sister Purity Kirui is a two-time medallist in the 3000m steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games.
Kenyan 800m runner Kipyegon Bett has sadly lost his battle with an unknown illness. pic.twitter.com/RCgPK75aaT
— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) October 6, 2024
Kipyegon Bett career
Kenyan middle-distance runner Kipyegon Bett specialized in the 800 meters. At the 2016 World U20 Championship in Bydgoszcz, Poland, Bett took first place in the 800 meters. Additionally, he got placed second in the 800 meters at the Colombian city of Cali’s 2015 World Youth Championships. Bett won the 800 meters in 1:44.70 at the second meet of the 2017 IAAF Diamond League in Shanghai.
In the 800 meters, Bett took home the bronze medal from the London-hosted 2017 World Championships. In November of last year, he was handed a four-year suspension after testing positive for EPO in 2018.
Kipyegon Bett was one of the well-known Kenyan athletes whom the Athletics Integrity Unit banned for anti-doping offenses. The runner tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) and was suspended in August 2018 for refusing to provide a sample.
The Commonwealth gold medallist Kirui, a 3000m steeplechase runner, claimed that Bett’s absence from the track had a negative impact on him. Bett was 20 years old at the time of his ban.
Kipyegon Bett’s death
On October 6, 2024, Kipyegon Bett passed away while undergoing care in a Bomet County hospital. A week before to his passing, Kirui claimed that Kipyegon Bett had been admitted to the hospital in his hometown of Kericho, western Kenya. After being released later, his condition deteriorated, and on Friday, he was readmitted.