Coe to take a look at methods to guard feminine athletes after Cheptegei demise

World Athletics president Lord Coe has pledged to look at ways to better protect female athletes following the tragic death of marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei.

The Ugandan, who finished 44th in last month’s Olympic marathon in Paris, was allegedly doused in petrol and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend on Sunday following a row at her home in Kenya.

Cheptegei sustained burns to 80 per cent of her body and was being treated in intensive care in hospital, before she was pronounced dead in the early hours of Thursday.

The 33-year-old’s death comes just over two years after that of Kenyan-based Bahrain runner Damaris Mutua, who was found strangled with a pillow over her face in the Rift Valley town of Iten.

In October 2011, Kenya’s Agnes Tirop – who won two world 10,000 metres bronze medals – was also found stabbed to death in the same town.

World Athletics president Lord Coe has pledged to do more to protect female athletes after the death of Rebecca Cheptegei (pictured)

Cheptegei was allegedly doused in petrol and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend on Sunday

Coe revealed he has been in touch with our council members in Africa to see how he can assist

In both cases, the partners of the athletes were identified as the main suspects. Tirop’s husband is facing murder charges, which he denies, while a search for Mutua’s boyfriend is ongoing.

Following the news of Cheptegei’s passing on Thursday, World Athletics president Coe said: ‘Our sport has lost a talented athlete in the most tragic and unthinkable circumstances.

‘Rebecca was an incredibly versatile runner who still had lots left to give on the roads, mountains and cross country trails.

‘I have been in touch with our council members in Africa to see how we can assist not only in our capacity as governing body of the sport Rebecca competed in, but to assess how our safeguarding policies might be updated to include abuse outside of the sport, and bringing together stakeholders from all areas of athletics to combine forces to protect our female athletes from abuse of all kinds to the best of our abilities.’

Renowned athletics TV commentator Rob Walker wrote on X: ‘I’ve witnessed great progress in East Africa over last 20 years. But the treatment of successful female athletes by jealous husbands/boyfriends must now be addressed. This is utterly appalling.’

Reported attacks on women have been on the rise in Kenya and the country’s sports minister Kipchumba Murkomen added: ‘This tragedy is a stark reminder of the urgent need to combat gender-based violence, which has increasingly affected even elite sports.’

Cheptegei began her career in 2010 and was initially a 1500m runner before moving up to long distances. She finished second in the Madrid and Cantalejo half marathons in 2011.

Athletics commentator Rob Walker called for ‘jealous husbands/boyfriends’ to ‘be addressed’

Walker took to social media to express his view on the back of the news on Thursday morning

Agnes Tirop was found stabbed to death in 2011, with her husband is facing murder charges

Agnes Tirop is pictured with her husband Ibrahim Rotich, who is now on trial, accused of murdering the promising track star

In 2022, she won gold in the up and downhill mountain race at the inaugural World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand.

Cheptegei also won the Padova marathon in Italy earlier that year, before finishing second in the Abu Dhabi marathon in 2hr 22min 47sec – the second fastest time by a female Ugandan.

She finished 14th in the marathon at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, then came 44th at the Paris Olympics in 2:32:14.

Fellow Ugandan runner James Kirwa said: ‘She was a very affable person. She helped us all even financially and she brought me training shoes when she came back from the Olympics. She was like an older sister to me.’