Kenya’s Ministry of Sports has placed a one-month international travel ban on all Kenyan athletes. On March 9, a letter was sent informing presidents of all Kenyan sporting organisations that their athletes will not be permitted to travel to international competitions.
The letter states:
“Following the global outbreak of the Covid-19 virus, the government has put in place measures to deal with the situation to safeguard the public and the country at large,” a statement from Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Heritage said.
“In this regard, the Ministry wishes to inform you that there will be no more travel for international events until further notice and notably for the next one (1) month.
“Additionally, note that the earlier communication by the Cabinet Secretary for Health on local events of international nature applies.”
Coronavirus update: The sports ministry in Kenya has banned sportsmen/Women from traveling to any international Sports events for the next 1-Month. pic.twitter.com/PuC7rqICgQ
— lynne wachira (@WachiraLynne) March 10, 2020
Kenyan athletes were to star in numerous big road races including Joyciline Jepkosgei(1:04:51) and Benard Ngeno (59:07) at this weekend’s United Airlines NYC Half.
The ban threatens the Boston and London marathons. London has been set up as the first showdown between Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele in many years. The two runners own personal bests of 2:01:39 (Kipchoge’s world record) and 2:01:41 (Bekele’s near miss from Berlin 2019).
I guess this only affects athletes sponsored by government of kenya