Former Gold Medalist Kipyegon Bett Dies After Vomiting Blood

2017 World 800m bronze medalist Kipyegon Bett has died. Bett passed away on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at 12:40 PM at Tenwek Hospital, Bomet County.

According to his sister, Purity Kirui, Bett had been admitted to the facility since Monday, September 30.

Purity said her brother had been sick for the last month and was admitted to AIC Litein Hospital before being referred to Tenwek, where he passed away.

“He had been unwell for about a month and was treated at AIC Litein Hospital as an outpatient. On Saturday, his condition deteriorated, and he was referred to Tenwek Hospital for further tests,” Kirui said.

Bett, 26, was said to have been vomiting blood for some time due to damage to his liver and other internal organs.

Reports indicate that he was communicating normally with family members and doctors on Sunday morning but breathed his last around 40 minutes past noon.

Athletics Kenya Confirmation

Athletics Kenya (AK) director in charge of youth and development, Barnaba Korir, said he had been in touch with the family and confirmed Bett’s death.

Korir stated that the athlete had previously been discharged from the hospital but was readmitted when his condition deteriorated.

“I spoke to his elder sister Purity Kirui, who confirmed his death. The family said he was admitted last week but discharged, only to be admitted again when his condition worsened,” Korir said.

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The body has been moved to Soin Sigowet Sub-County Hospital mortuary for preservation ahead of the burial.

Bett was handed a four-year ban in 2018 for using the performance-enhancing drug Erythropoietin.

He returned to competition in 2022, placing third in the 400m hurdles at the Third Athletics Kenya Track and Field Meeting. Since then, Bett had not competed.

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Kipyegon Bett Records

Bett was the 2016 World Athletics Under-20 800 meters champion and also earned a silver medal in the 4x800m at the 2017 World Athletics Relay Championships.

Bett claimed victory in the 800 metres at the 2016 World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

He secured second place in the 800 metres at the 2015 World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia.

At the second meet of the 2017 IAAF Diamond League in Shanghai, Bett triumphed in the 800m event with a time of 1:44.70.

He earned the bronze medal in the 800 metres at the 2017 World Championships in London.

In 2018, Bett tested positive for EPO and was handed a four-year ban in November of the same year.

He was also the brother of Purity Kirui, a two-time Commonwealth Games 3000m steeplechase medallist.

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