World and Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich has advised Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) to “get rid of” Athletics coach Peter Wemali following the escalation of the saga where he sexually harassed junior female runners last year.
Moses Kipsiro has been embroiled in the events after he revealed Wemali’s deeds to the media in march last year, after the Africa Cross Country championships. The 2014 Glasgow commonwealth gold medalist has since received death threats.
Kipsiro who even hinted on seeking refuge in another country, was forced to pull out of the national athletics team that was heading to Guiyang, China for the World Cross Country Championships and since then, the 28-year-old is unsettled and very insecure.
A few weeks after abandoning the international event, Wemali’s house was burnt and Simon Ayeko also an athlete and cousin to Kipsiro got arrested. The coach accused the duo of having connived to commit the crime, but Ayeko was three days later released on Police bond. He claimed he was innocent.
Police have launched investigations into all the cases but a significant outcome is yet to result. Wemali is also an employee of the force and it is believed his links could have been the major hindrance to justice.
Wemali was suspended from getting involved in any athletics activity last year but the Uganda Athletics Federation headed by Dominic Otuchet insists the coach was cleared after investigations. The coach also says he is has done nothing wrong.
Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich who doesn’t like what is happening to Kipsiro says, UAF are being “insensitive” on the matter. “I think UAF officials are being insensitive. This matter shouldn’t have dragged on up to this level,” he told Daily Monitor.
“These officials totally have no respect for athletes much as some of us might keep quiet. I had talked to some elders and religious leaders back home (Kapchorwa) about the matter before the World Cross-country last month; we wanted to invite all the stakeholders and resolve the matter.
“Unfortunately when Kipsiro pulled out of the cross-country, we called off the meeting to try and study the situation afresh. Its good they held another meeting. What hurts me is that athletics is losing. I might not be affected but there are runners that will never be the same again.”
Kiprotich Reveals
“There is a girl, a distant relative, whose career she ruined. She was a very promising runner but she is now no more. She can’t run,” Kiprotich said of Wemali. “I also remember some time in 2003 when I was at Sebei College, there was another young promising athlete, who Wemali was coaching.
“Later, I visited Wemali’s house only to find the girl at his home. He had turned her into a wife. So why should we have such a coach in our sport,” he queried. “I don’t know why UAF is shielding him because he is a wrong character. The people in Kapchorwa don’t like him.”
“I have had a share of such injustices but I normally keep quiet. For instance in 2010, I qualified for the World Cross-country Championships after finishing fourth at national level but was dropped from the team,” he revealed to Daily Monitor.
“I missed the trip. I was training in Kenya but when I came back they told me I was unfit. I took heart and never complained to anyone. I knew time would come and the federation would be begging me to compete.”
Kiprotich was to travel for the World Junior Championships in China in 2006, but got informed on the day of the trip that he was bound to stay. “I got a call from UAF that there was no ticket for me. I was so hurt. It’s one incident I will never forget in my life. This is the first time I am talking about it since then.”
