Standard S
14 April 2005
Nairobi — Renowned Kenyan middle distance runner, Bernard Lagat, has become a citizen of the United States.
Running under the Kenyan flag of the country of his birth, Lagat won medals at the Olympics and World Championships over 1,500 metres and a number of gold medals at other international events.
He is also the second fastest man ever over the blue riband distance of 1,500 metres.
"I thought long and hard before changing my nationality but, at the age of 30, I have to look to my future, after my running career has come to an end," Lagat told Spanish-based British journalist Phil Minshull from his home in Tucson, Arizona.
"I have lived in the United States since 1996, I graduated from Washington State University and the United States has been my permanent home for almost a decade, and it is where I envisage living in the years to come.
"I hope to continue running at the very highest level until at least the 2008 Olympics. In the short term, I realise that changing my nationality makes me ineligible to compete at the 2005 World Championships but I look forward to trying to run as fast as possible in other meetings this summer, with the aim of inspiring and uplifting Kenyan and American athletics fans alike.
"The decision to change my nationality was not one I took lightly as I am very proud of my Kenyan heritage.
"It was a great honour to see the Kenyan flag flown, as well as sometimes the Kenyan national anthem played, in recognition of my efforts at many prestigious events and those memories will never fade.
"Most of my family still live in Kenya and I will continue to maintain strong links with the country.
"In future years, it is my intention to attempt to qualify for US athletics teams and to try to give something back to my new country," added Bernard yesterday.
The news stunned Kenya's athletics fraternity. Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat said he won't comment until he talked to Lagat.
"I will not comment until I personally talk to Lagat. I don't have enough information yet to base my comment on," said Kiplagat.
But former three-time 3,000m steeplechase world champion Moses Kiptanui wondered why it becomes an issue when athletes change their citizenship.
"Lagat has done a lot for this country. He has run for long for this country and since he has an American girlfriend, I don't see anything strange in his decision," said Kiptanui.
"One can see a genuine decision in this (development), unlike the defections to Qatar or Bahrain, which seem to be clouded in controversy," said Kiptanui.
"We should not read too much in this other than Lagat's genuine wish for self-advancement after a selfless service to Kenya," said Kiptanui.
Kiptanui expressed reservations on the order by Minister for Sport, Ochilo Ayacko, on Tuesday that athletes who have defected to be deported.
"They are our brothers. They were born here and we can't just deport them because they became citizens of other countries," he said.
"How about many foreigners who live in Kenya? Should they also be deported?" he asked.
Barnabas Korir, who is the manager for James Kwalia and Richard Yatich, who defected to Qatar differed with the minister's deportation order.
"Kenyan athletes like Wilfred Bungei, William Yiampoy and Timothey Kiptanui train in St Moritz, Switzerland. The Swiss Government hasn't ordered them deported," said Korir.
"Deportation is ill-advised. After all they have no criminal record and they paid $110 to Immigration Department to stay in Kenya for one year," said Korir.
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