Nairobi – World Athletics governing council (IAAF) has picked David Okeyo, the Vice-President of Athletics Kenya, to join its Governing Council for a four-year tenure.
Okeyo will take the place of the President of Athletics Kenya, Isaiah Kiplagat, who stepped aside in April this year as the head of the national federation to concentrate on his campaign for a top IAAF post.
International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) General Secretary, Essar Gabriel, announced the appointment of Okeyo, a veteran athlete and manager of the sport, in a letter dated Aug. 25.
The appointment to the IAAF Council was made in the middle of a Kenyan resurgence at the World Championship event in Beijing, China, where the East African nation has managed six gold medals.
“As agreed between President Lamine Diack and President-elect Sebestian Coe, it is our pleasure to invite you on Aug. 30 for the joint session of the 201st IAAF Council Meetings,’’ IAAF General Secretary said in an appointment letter seen by PANA on Thursday.
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Okeyo and Kiplagat have engaged in a tussle in which Okeyo was replaced as Secretary-General to become Vice-President in what the federation said was re-organisation of the leadership structure.
Kiplagat hoped to win a top IAAF post of Vice President. He got 46 votes, losing his post as Governing Council member.
There was speculation Kiplagat was intent on replacing Cameroonian Hamad Kalkaba Malboum as the African candidate for the Vice-Presidency of the IAAF.
Analysts predict a leadership tussle within Athletics Kenya will intensify following Kiplagat’s failure to clinch a top seat during the 50th International Association of Athletics Federations Congress in Beijing.