After stabbing a woman, a Kenyan runner accused of "sexual assault" before the Tokyo Olympicsأولمبياد

Kenya's 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto hopes to defend his Olympic title at the Tokyo Olympics in July, but his preparations have been clouded by accusations of sexual assault.

The two-time world champion, who denies allegations against him of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in his hometown of Kapsapet and was released on bail in November, is among the athletes invited to participate in Kenya's three-day Olympic trials starting Thursday at Kasarani Stadium in Kenya. Nairobi.

Kipruto is a gold medalist in the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 2017 World Cup in London and Doha 2019.

If he finishes first or second, the 26-year-old will secure a place on the team and a chance to defend the title he won in record time in Rio de Janeiro five years ago.

And this is not the first time that the name of a Kenyan hero has been linked to a scandal.

In 2012, Ezequiel Comboi narrowly avoided being disqualified from the London Olympics, after being accused in court of stabbing a woman.

Despite this, the Kenya Olympic Committee approved Kamboy's candidacy, and his participation was crowned by winning his third gold medal.

So Kipruto's reputation is on the line, but there are also questions about his performance ahead of his trial this week, after he failed to finish the Wanda Diamond League on June 10 in Florence, Italy, his first steeplechase of the season.

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