Former Kenya Under- 20 international athlete Sheila Chepng’etich has passed on.
Chepng'etich, the 2014 World Under-20 1500m bronze medallist, died at a Kericho County Referral Hospital where she had been taken after falling ill on Sunday evening, according to her coach Japheth Kemei.
The athlete who was serving a ban on doping was reported to have been unwell for some time and was picked by her mother on Wednesday from a camp where she was training.
She was taken to Nyabondo Mission Hospital, where she was referred back to Kericho County Referral Hospital and admitted on Friday until her death on Sunday.
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“I can confirm that Sheila died on Sunday at 5.30pm after being unwell for some time," Kemei told journalists.
Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei sent his condolences to Chepng'etich's family adding that the death had robbed the country of a promising athlete.
“ I want to send my condolences to the family, friends and entire athletics family for losing such a young promising person,” the AK president stated.
Additionally, Athletics Kenya athletes representative Milcah Chemos expressed her shock at the death stating: “It’s sad that we have lost an athlete based in Kericho after a long illness. We send our condolences to the family at this sad moment for the loss."
Chepng’etich, who won silver in 3000m and bronze in 1500m at the 2013 Africa Under-20 Championships, had been serving the four-year ban since 2014 after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
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The 22-year-old also represented Kenya at the 2013 World Cross Country Championships in Poland, finishing eighth in the Under-20 race.
