Kiprop- I will work with Rosa until retirement

Beijing 2008 Olympics and three-time world men 1500m champion, Asbel Kiprop, has taken to social media to declare his unflinching support for his under fire Italian manager, Federico Rosa who is being investigated on doping related charges.

Kiprop cut short his preparations for next month’s Rio 2016 Games where he is the overwhelming favourite to clinch his second Olympics crown on Friday to attend the court session where his manager was released on a Ksh300,000 cash bail.

“I believe in myself my hard work and my God given talent. I speak out loud because I feel for the humanity when an innocent person is being convinced pinned down accused falsely.

“It is our own people who doped our athletes and a good answer to this is when Mathew Kisorio doped he confessed and showed the doctor who doped him to the authorities. No action was taken against the doctor.

“I have worked with Federico Rosa since 2008. I will work with Rosa to my retirement just like Paul Tergat & Martin Lel. I will stand out for the truth & I will not quit speaking the truth because it will set us all free. I will never join critics haters & false accusers. Take it to the bank,” the past All Africa Games and African champion wrote on Facebook in a bitter post.

“Focus has been difficult since this case started,” he earlier admitted in a separate interview.

Kisorio who was expelled from Rosa after testing positive in 2012 and has since served his two-year suspension presented a retraction in court absolving Federico from blame.

On Wednesday, Kiprop who is the third fastest 1500m runner in history, rounded fellow Rosa Associati athletes in a press conference in Eldoret to protest what they term as the unfair targeting of their manager who is the son of revered agent; Dr. Gabrielle Rosa, who established the firm that has been active in Kenya for over three decades.

That came after Kibera Law Court Principle Magistrate, Bernard Ochoi, remanded Federico for two days without charge to give police time to investigate doping allegations against him.

On Friday, the magistrate deferred the case to next Thursday.

Besides Kiprop, London and New York marathon champions, Jemimah Sumgong and Stanley Biwott, 2013 Moscow Worlds winner; Eunice Sum and silver medallist, Mercy Cherono as well as bronze winner, Paul Tanui are other Rosa athletes in Kenya’s Rio 2016 team.

World Half and World Cross silver medallist, Bedan Karoki also made the provisional squad for the Brazil Summer Games.