'What happened to our cultural values?' Janet Jepkosgei questions men entering relationships with young athletes akin to their daughters

has cautioned upcoming athletes in Nandi County against reckless romantic relationships that derail their promising careers.

The 800m silver medalist said the industry is rife with unscrupulous individuals who prey on young athletes and trick them into relationships.

Athletics Kenya has launched a toll-free hotline to support athletes facing gender-based violence aiming to create safer sports environments.

Speaking during a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) awareness campaign in Kapsabet, organized by Athletics Kenya and other partners, Jepkosgei emphasized the importance of caution.

“It is true…male athletes are also going through a lot. We have a lot of women here in Kapsabet who are not really runners but pretend to be, to get close to these male athletes,» she noted.

Athletics Kenya boss Barnaba Korir has explained how the mistrust between athletes and federation is hampering the working relations between the two parties.

She further urged athletes to be vigilant of individuals masquerading as coaches with harmful intentions during an engagement forum with athletes at the Nandi Cottages.

«We also have cases where female athletes have fallen victims to men posing as coaches or fellow athletes but with the intention of sucking them dry of their hard-earned monies,» she said.

The further lamented the breakdown in family values, noting cases where ‘coaches’ are getting into relationships with athletes young enough to be their daughters whereas older women are hunting down male runners.

«Men, what happened to our cultural values? It used to be that you could not simply get into relationships with a girl without going to see her parents first. I have encountered situations where someone is married yet is dating an athlete young enough to be his daughter,” she added.

Former Commonwealth champion Lucy Kabuu has told famale athletes to be wary of the men they fall in love with to avoid exploitation and cases of Gender-Based Violence.

Jepkosgei further warned young athletes against disrespecting their parents and elders once they taste fame.

«Do not think that making money or becoming famous gives you the license to now bear down on your parents and not listen to what they say,” she noted.

Coach Richard Mutai echoed Jepkosgei’s sentiments proposing that the only way to restructure broken family values is spiritual nourishment.